Paragraph Answer for "A Spoiled Man"
Write an answer that is based on information found on the page you have been assigned. Try, as best you can, to connect what happens on that page to events that occur either before or after in the story. Use at least one literary term (setting, conflict, plot, irony etc.) in your answer. Quote the story at least once, but no more than 20 words, maximum, for all quotes. Identify the page number, please, as a heading before your paragraph. See my model answer for more ideas on what to do.
Write between 150 and 200 words. Bring your word processed work to class on Wednesday.
Link to the story online for easier cut and paste quoting.
22 comments:
Page 4
It is interesting to note how Rezak comes to be hired as a gardener by the American wife, Sonya Harouni. Daniyal Mueenuddin describes her as “an English major,” who uses the words of Yeats, Rilke and Keats “as a restorative,” painting her as a sensitive soul, but perhaps also as shallow and unable to think on her own. She wants to do more than Ghulam Rasool asks for Rezak because “It made her happy to think of spoiling [Rezak] in his old age.” It seems that Daniyal Mueenuddin means “spoiling” in two ways: the sense of treating someone indulgently and also of harming them from overindulgence. Mueenuddin only uses the word, “spoiling,” once in his story, worth noting as it connects to the title. The events that follow are indeed both—at times, Rezak has the indulgences of life as Sonya hoped; at others, he is seriously harmed by his involvement with her family. It is ironic that her desire to help Rezak backfires so badly, leading in some way to the loss of his wife, his torture, and his lonely death; all this from an innocent decision to hire him as gardener and to ease his passage through life.—199 words
On page four, Daniyal Mueenuddin sets up an internal conflict in Sonya Harouni’s soul. Sonya is “completely bored” in Pakistan, but she tries to adapt here studying Urdu, and wearing local clothes. Putting the words, “this is my place now,” in Sonya’s mouth, the author shows her acceptance of new reality. Mueenuddin, when Sonya explodes “everyone’s a crook, nothing works here,” describes this process as a hard way. This cross cultural conflict defines the destiny of the protagonist, Rezak. The accident with goats, which ate the saplings from America, is very metaphorical. Do the saplings symbolize Sonya? Or, it simply underlines Sonya’s internal conflict and her adaptation problems. However, in this misfortune, Mueenuddin predicts the Rezak’s death; giving help, Sonya cannot protect Rezak as roses from real rude world. Showing Sonia’s and Ghualm Rasool’s gentleness, sympathy towards Rezak and their wish to help him, the author alludes to the old aphorism - “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
- 161 words
Page 17
Throughout the story Sonya Harouni was portrayed as a nice and caring employer by: spoiling Rezak with his servant pay, helping him find his wife when she disappeared; and paying tribute to Rezak when he passed away with Ghulam Rasool and the gardener. However, in the end when she decides to keep Rezak’s home as a memorial and possible entertainment for her guest, it seems genuinely like she wants a memory and a reminder of him to her. Though it’s ironic because she has only gone back once to see the home and never returned the second time, indicating that she has lost her “attention” already. Somehow when her attention is gone and she no longer remembers about the home, and, “Gradually, like the falling leaves,” Rezak’s home has then been stripped of all its worth (tool, clothes, and even the filthy mattress) by everyone, as it now and forever lies empty below the swimming pool with Sonya never knowing or possibly even caring.
-168 words
page 15
I was quite amazed with how Rezak reacted after being “hanged on the wall all evening”, listening to some guy accusing him of “pimping” his wife, addressing him with every bad word that he knew, and beating him up as if he were a punching bag even though he was innocent . At the beginning of the second paragraph,P15, when Mr. Daniyal Mueenuddin was describing how uncomfortably Rezak was laying down with his mind whirling, thinking about how life had always been unfaithful to him, I thought he was going to start weeping and complaining, (that’s what I would do under the circumstances). However, instead he acted like he deserved all of that punishment. Rezak, an old man, who had almost always been alone, living in a hut, aimlessly moving from one place to another, with very little money in his pocket, now realized that the money that he was making at the Harouni’s house had spoiled him and “made him to hope_ for too much”. In order to fix this he decided to sell everything he owned, the goat and the television, and to never again wish beyond his limits.193 words
Page 14
To begin with, Rezak was no doubt a spoiled man, in his earlier life. Due to being Sonya’s personal gardener, he had good income for himself. However, near the end it was an intense torture for Rezak. The D.S.P. didn’t give any respect or a chance for him to express his feelings. Therefore, in the worse situation: “Rezak shrieked, he never had felt pain like this, which spread flickering all through his body”. Due to being an old man, D.S.P had no particular care because they were blinded by their thoughts that his wife ran away from him. The events that Bukhari could have done earlier to prevent an ironic torture could have been avoided, if the Harounis family didn’t leave for Islamabad and waited for the deputy police. A quick conversation would have changed the history of Rezak. Furthermore, the police have instructed to dump Rezak at home after the severe beating and threaten to keep his mouth shut. They gave him the message of not a word to anyone: thus police cowardice. I’ve come to the conclusion, that Rezak illustrated us with an example of showing humility, courage and to learn from his way of losing a wife. - 200 words
Page 16
When Sonya visits Rezak’s grave, it is interesting to note how “the smallness of the grave surprised her.” This is the same marble gravestone that the stonecutter showed off to Rezak and claimed “Look at the size of that. I swear to God, I’ve been saving it for my own mother.” It is the same gravestone that Rezak spent his life savings on. This moment underlines the importance of social class and point of view in the story. For Rezak, the gravestone was the most important thing in the last year and a half of his life and it cost him everything he had. On the other hand, for Sonya, the grave seemed insignificant and she probably could have easily afforded it. In the story “A Spoiled Man,” point of view plays a significant part. From Rezak’s omniscient point of view, he was spoiled by his masters and got much more than he deserved or expected in his life. From an objective point of view though, it does not seem like Rezak was spoiled at all because he had to live a lonely life of servitude after his family took everything he owned and abandoned him. – 195 words
Page 10
Although Rezak’s wife has a mental disability, she nonetheless brings him pleasure, hope and contentment. But she disappeared just when Rezak was becoming truly happy with her. Daniyal Mueenuddin sets up a plot in which Ghulam Rasool and the gardeners are trying to help Rezak search for his lost wife, but nobody can find her. Rezak suspects that “She was gone, dead or stolen, taken to the brothels.” In this way, Mueenuddin borrows Rezak’s thoughts in order to reveal the dysfunctions of Pakistani society. It is also foreshadowing that Rezak’s happiness will also be gone or stolen. Meanwhile, Mueenuddin sets up another sub-plot in which the Harouins’ family hosts a luxurious Christmas party. Compared to Rezak’s poverty and misfortune, the mistress, Sonya Harouni, leads a life of luxury. But, despite her affluence, she still does not feel happy. She wants to do something for Rezak to make herself happy. But it is ironic that her help leads directly to Rezak’s torture and lonely death. Through the completely different experiences of Rezak and Sonya, Mueenuddin reveals many of the social injustices and conflicts of this particular society.
-186 words
Page 1
It all started when Rezak stand at the stone gateway of the Harouni’s home and salute the American wife named Sonya, which changed the rest of his life in just a blink of an eye. Ghulam Rasol referred to him as a “volunteer,” when one day, Rezak invited himself inside the Harouni’s property as being useful carrying one pot in his arm: a scenario that attracts the gardener as well as Ghulam Rasol’s attention. Rezak is humorous, hardworking and honest person. However, his decisions to work with the Harouni family and marry a feebleminded wife, give him the life he never expected: freedom, grace and pain, which leads to a bitter end. Having a bizarre twist in his fate and blaming himself “the fault is mine” is a serious statement from Rezak. The recognition that he once waited since he first stand at the Harouni’s weekend home is the same recognition he hoped for by burying his body in the Ali Khan orchard.
-180 words
Page 5
It must have been a surreal dream for Reza, who went from eating soaked milk bread to nine thousand rupees a month. Even before he was hired at this lavish estate he would always make his small cubicle as homely as possible to suit his needs and never over did it. As a gardener he always found pleasure in doing his job to the best of his ability with pride, without ever wanting to be a burden and always helping with different tasks other than what he was hired for. “Rezak spent the morning hours ferrying boxes and chairs and rugs down from the main road to the picnic spot.” Little did Rezak know that by living in this dream there would be tough consequences (literally). By wanting a life he once had with somebody else made him uneasy at first, but then got so comfortable with it that when he lost it again, he felt that there was nothing worth living for. The conflict in this story is how someone you think is helping you could possibly be your worst nightmare.
184 words
Page 12
It was early in the morning and the sun just shone through the windows. The Police Deputy Superintendent drove up the drive way. The Deputy came inside the house and sat in the bright hall-way, asking “where is the husband?” with a demanding voice. Ghulam Rasool who informed the Deputy that Rezak lived at another property was sent to “Get him.” Rezak, facing the Deputy, was breathless and couldn’t answer any questions. While the D.S.P. was on the way to his Jeep he said, “Please give my regards to Harouni Sahib,” staring back at Ghulam Rasool. Just after dusk, Rezak was picked up by four policemen from his hut and was taken to the police post at Tret. The policeman asked, “Did you find her?” tapping on Rezaks shoulder, as Rezak stepped out of the police car. Walking inside the dark and windowless room in the police station, Rezak was hanged around his wrists on a hook by the manacles. He hung there whole night not knowing what is happening to his life and who would come to help the spoiled man.
-182 words
Page 7
Rezak suffered from his step-brothers and struggled for his earnings. He became spoiled by his economic success after getting a job into the Ali Khan orchard. With his good salary, he bought everything he wanted: two goats, television, and a radio. Then he met a person from his “childhood village” and he talked about his greedy brothers which helps reduced his “bitterness” for them. The idea of marriage doesn’t sound good to him because of his old age. He thinks that the person he met is “making fun of him”, but the hope of ridding his loneliness and the desire of having a son dominate his mind; he doesn’t think about the age of the girl and her feeble-mind. It is ironic that he gets married with a short- minded girl to satisfy his aspirations, but he couldn’t dispose of his loneliness for long. His wife didn’t bare him any children, and one night she went away forever. His efforts to find her lead him to police harassment. In short his spoiled-mind brightens his hopes and brings him separation, sorrow, police torture, and finally to death.
Words-187
Page 6
It is amazing that , just after Razak got hired by Sonya Horouni the American wife , his masters had a picnic lunch at Ali khan land a few terraces below Razak hut. When the party was on, the American wife visited Razak hut for the first time. It is interesting how Razak was showing off the appliances and refinements. He build the cabin in his twenties the time when his family abandoned him . So this hut had become his home and consolation . The photographs of actresses on the walls giving him company. He bought a radio and television but the hut was without electricity. " if there,s electricity, then it,s really something " said Razak . As they were returning to the picnic, Sonya told her husband that Razak need electricity for his radio and lighting. It is ironic that , razak married his wife to bare him a child and be his companion but the girl disappearance cost him torture and leading him to his lonely death .
Page 2
It is interesting, when Rezak arrived at the gate of Harounis, Ghulam Rassol said “ come on then break a bread with us” it shows how kind was the man to offer him a food. On the other way , Razak didn’t accept Rasools invitation for anything. Instead, he said” I ‘d need to put stones in my gizzard like a chicken to digest the rich food that you good people eat”, It feels that how much he put himself lower than them, and didn’t want to accept it. Rezak was very poor old man, but he was generous, hard woring . He insisted the waitress sat the tea house to have some of his lunch food, this shows how kind person he is. However, Rezak leaves in a box he made for himself for almost 20 years, becuasse he didn’t want to see his family members forever.
Word count: 150
Page 1
“In a spoiled man” there is two principal ideas, which constantly repeats itself and defines the story: the land and Sonya .More precisely the relationship of Rezak to the land and Sonya. It is around this idea that the story evolves and develops itself. Through this relationship to the land and Sonya, Rezak exits and finds a meaning to his life. The first paragraph illustrates this point very well, through the desire of Rizak to get the attention of his future mistress. The author says “he had waited hours to receive this recognition from her...”. Even, the long description of the land in the paragraph 2 and the desire of Rejak to help the gardeners to set up the pots in the Harouni’s property, in the paragraph 3, shows the place the Harouni’s land will take later in Rezak life.. This is clearly understood in the story when the reader discovers that Rezak lost his family and the land he belonged to. At this point the importance of Sonya and the harouni’s house becomes clear. Sonya represents his lost family, while the land of the harouni represents his lost land. This two ideas represent the rightful desire of Rezak to belong again, to what he once had.
207 words
On page seven of the story, for me, it was quite surprising to find out why Rezak is estrange from his family at this age because “he had left home determined never to go back “ only to be on his own, and besides that to show his family about his success especially his current situation he has had. Since, he’s an aging fellow he should have thought the opposite about what he had done (about his reputation and name). When his childhood village friend offered him to marry the girl (his cousin daughter) at first, he thought his friend was making fun of him because of his age; however, he accepted it without hesitation when “hope and desire pierced his heart when he thought of it “ ignoring the fact that she has a mental disorder. He obviously had been ramble and lonely in his entire life, which made him, had a lot of thoughts about having a child by marring the girl. However, His case seems very understandable; anyone else would do the same if they were in his age. (182)
Page 9
In the story "A Spoiled Man" Rezak, the gardener, was all out spoiled. Rezak was spoiled by Sonya (his employer) with the income he earns from his hard work at the orchard. Or the outstanding treatment he receive from his wife, in spite of her mental statement. It was mentioned in the story that as Rezak's wife begun to do more work in/out of the house such as cooking and pasturing the goat, less work remains for Rezak. Although, his luck did not continue as time pass. His work in the orchard ceased when "the trees lost their leaves", which in his case the worst case scenario. To top it off, he came home one day to find out that his wife had disappeared once again. All he could think about is where his wife could have gone and wonder if his wife is " lying hurt somewhere in the forest": In conclusion, the faster the good karma came in, much painful karma awaits you.
-162 words
Bogdan N Rapcea #56882
Page 11
It is very interesting, how the fate of Rezak’s wife stays in the hands of a few people. Mueenuddin describes how difficult is to live in a society based on “connections” where “everyone’s crook” and where those with “their power” and “their wealth” have the direct control upon the simple “man’s life” that believes in nothing but “God” and “his mercy.” The author also shows the real “face” of those that tried to help Rezak to find his wife -- eventually, abducted by “one of the gangs.” Daniyal Mueenuddin emphasizes the difference between the characters by showing each individual in a different type of “light.” If Rezak is shown throughout the story as being simple and humble, Ghulam Rasool is seen rather as having an “encyclopedic knowledge” about people – yet, he is the only one who really cares about Rezak’s situation, while Omar Bukhari is described, as being the one that has everything under control—having dealt in the past with similar situations. Leaving from the simple idea of finding his wife, Rezak’s thought of asking other people’s help, seemed to be a bad decision for him; eventually the future course of actions will change Rezak into a “different” person.
Words 200
Page 8 is the warmest memory for Rezak even though the girl is feebleminded and Rezak's wedding is lonely. The girl's coming brings a new life and a new hope to Rezak because anyway "the house he returned to would not be empty." Mueenuddin describes the interesting change of the relationship between them in this page. At the beginning, the girl cries and is frightened. But Rezak cares about her as tender as possible. "Gradually, she became accustomed to living with him (Rezak)." And then, the girl starts to cook food, make tea and massage for her husband. Finally, "more important" is that the couple are "able to communicate" with each other. There is no denying that both of them are living in the lowest level of their society. But the human solicitude between them is a beam of sunshine brightens and warms their hut even readers' hearts. I sincerely hope that is the conclusion of the story.
[160 words]
page 3
In the previous pages, we got introduced to the main character, Razak, who is old, sick, and stubborn.
He works at poultry sheds. His family abandoned him. In page three, Mueenuddin , describes Razak,
shelter. Razak has been living most of his life in a little hut that he so skillfully made himself, which is his
guarantee of independence. Also Razak make a requisition to Ghulam Rasool who is the majordomo at
the Harouni's house, " feed me and I'll work here and do whatever you want. You don't have to give a
room." At first he expects nothing, but with high paying salary Razak quickly became too ambitious. The
author uses the seasons to change mood of the story. His life unfolds just like the four seasons. It starts
in spring, which refers to rebirth, renewal, and regrowth. He gets a well-paying job. Summer is hot, fun,
colorful, and perfect. Also, Razak is happy and successful. In fall when the leaves change colour and fall, the weather gets cooler. His life changes and he gets married to a feebleminded girl. Winter represents cold and darkness. His wife disappears, he goes to jail, he blames himself, and gets depressed. Again the story ends in his tragic death into the coldness of autumn, the next year.
225 words
On page four the author of “A Spoiled Man,” Daniyal Mueenuddin explains about the American wife, Sonya Harouni. It tells the readers that she adapts to Pakistani culture and traditions such as wearing tradition Pakistani clothes and learning the language, Urdu. From my knowledge of knowing really well about Pakistan’s culture and how the people have expectation from their daughter in-laws; as Mueenuddin’s description of her comment “nothing works out here” it describes Sonya’s frustration that she might have been dealing with how she has to meet her in- law’s expectation which is very challenging for someone who has been brought up in western countries. This could be one of the reasons leading her get in to fight with her husband. As author describes her “I don’t do enough, but I can at least do something for the good.” Although she might have been familiar with how the employees are being treated in Pakistan, but still she wants to be fair and treat Rezak equally as the other employees working for them. This shows her generosity towards Rezak to spoil him, but she wouldn’t know spoiling a man who has been treated worthlessly his entire life would take him in life.
201 words
page 9
The plot on page nine is a significant piece to the story of Rezak’s. The disappearance of his wife sets of events that eventually end the life of Rezak. After a long effort he has finally managed to form some kind of communication to ward her. Rezak did not feel alone any more. He has a companion who was waiting for him at home, who would take care of him when he “felt ill or sad”. Anger was the first emotion he felt because she has “disappeared at nightfall” before and found her frightened “cowering behind some rocks”. This emotion quickly turned in to worry after searching and not finding her. His stubbornness and independence been separated “living alone for years” from his family in Kowar has made him to relay on himself only. He asks Harouni as a last resort. Her disappearance lead to him being suspect and even tortured but, his greatest fear is realize being alone living in his hut after the search for her eventually stopped.
Response by Liza Mulungi
A Spoiled Man
Daniyal Mueenuddin’s written piece “A Spoiled Man” left a lasting impression that resonated in my mind for some time after reading it. I thought it was well written, the way the author painted vivid images for the reader: using detailed illustrative vocabulary. I found Daniyal had very strong introductions for each of her characters, which helped me gain a better understanding while trying to truly absorb their different personas. Although a fictional piece, the plot of this story was very believable and realistic making it near to impossible for any reading it not to be feel empathetic towards the tragic sad ending. This story has broadened my perspective when taking time to consider the level of difficulty that can be involved in trying to intergrade and blend two very diverse cultural backgrounds. Though I would have wished for a happier ending for Rezak, like we would all have for the beloved characters in our lives the unforeseeable almost bothersome conclusion is one that some of will face I life, it’s admirable that despite all the hurt and unfortunate events through Rezak’s existence (unlike most) he was grateful at all times, never lacked appreciation for the blessing he’d received and cherished each of those moments to the depths of his heart.
210 words
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