Selvadurai Shyam Funny Boy Essay free essay sample

Gender exploration in Funny Boy Funny Boy is a story of a seven year old innocent Sri Lankan boy. The story is narrated through the eyes of Arjie who is naively experimenting with is gender. The writer portrays Arjie to be little odd and different from the other boys of his age. While other Sri Lankan boys his age like to play cricket, he likes to put on a sari and play bride-bride with his sister and female cousins. In this essay will analyze the importance of Janaki’s room in Arjie’s identity and his quest to search for his true gender. For Arjie, Janaki’s room was a place of transformation which let him explores his freedom; ascend into a different fantasy world, a world which is beautiful, more brilliant. It is this room which transforms him into who he truly wants to be and to emulate his Amma who was his inspiration through different fantasy games, such as bride-bride. We will write a custom essay sample on Selvadurai Shyam Funny Boy Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is apparent throughout the story that Arjie is innocently exploring his gender and identity and has found strong inclination of comfort towards female gender which author makes reference to subtly as is stated in the text, â€Å"it was to this territory of the girls confined to the back garden and the kitchen porch that I seem to have gravitated naturally†¦. † (Selvadurai 3) Janaki’s room provided him with the opportunity to be with the girls and feel like one of them. He felt in his element playing games of fantasy like Cinderella and Thumbelina and most importantly bride-bride, his favourite, for which the much anticipated and intriguing preparations took place in Janaki’s room. His young, curious and imaginative mind wants to explore what is unknown to him and want to push the boundary by experimenting with fantasies, e. g. â€Å"For me the primary attraction of the girls’ territory was the potential for free play of fantasy† (Selvadurai 3). This enactment of fantasies also led him to a different world in which he could see himself transform into a figure that that was very beautiful and graceful. Janaki’s room, which is under the territory called â€Å"the girls† located in back portion of the house plays a pivotal role in Arjie’s fantasy world. It is this room that enabled him to explore his transformation into a personality he fanaticises. It is Janaki’s room that this transformation painstakingly takes place of a young boy into a bride that he aspires to be e. . â€Å"and my ultimate moment of joy, was when I put on the clothes of the bride† (Selvadurai 4). This transformation into a bride subconsciously serves two purposes, one of which was to emulate his Amma who was his inspiration as stated â€Å"†¦. for even though I adored the goddess of the local cinema, Amma was the final statement in female beauty for me. † (Selvadurai 15) He observes his Amma getting dressed fo r special occasions with extreme focus and enthusiasm, consuming each detail of the ritual. Through enacting the central character of bride-bride, he is able to emulate those steps. Secondly this transformation provided him with the ability to be what he really wants to be which is not restricted by his physical being as stated by the author, â€Å"I was able to leave the constraints of myself and ascend into another, more brilliant, more beautiful self, a self to whom this day was dedicated, around whom the world, represented by my cousins putting flowers in my hair, draping the palu, seemed to revolve. (Selvadurai 4-5) Apart from his feminine side, Arjie, like the male dominant society he was living in, has a hunger for control and leadership, it is in back garden and Janaki’s room where his huger for leadership, attention seeking tactics are used and put to test, time and time again. It is evident he likes to be a leader to achieve the role which will ultimately let him to fulfill his fantasies, e. g. â€Å"The reward of my leadership was that I always got to pl ay the main part in the fantasy† (Selvadurai 4). As influential as he was, Arjie is also the attention seeker. This is prominent after losing the power struggle with Tanuja, when he is given the most insignificant role of the groom and was asked to pretend to be at an office. Not giving up on his idea of being central character, he devises a clever methodology and starts a new game of office-office where is assigning different office task to female cousins, proving yet again that he is the leader and central character around which everyone should revolve as they did earlier in all of the other fantasy plays. Janaki’s room has a very important role in Arji’s young life. It led him to a journey where he could find his identity and to search him true gender. A journey which would let him emulate his aspiration and let him ascend into a world that is more brilliant and beautiful. While doing all this, he was in control of every facet of fantasy games that they played and always remained a central character. Work Cited Selvadurai, Shyam, â€Å"Pigs Can’t Fly. † Funny Boy. Toronto: McClelland amp; Stewart, Inc. , 1994. 1-40. Print.

How to Prepare For Your College Admission Test - The Essay You Shouldnt Miss

How to Prepare For Your College Admission Test - The Essay You Shouldn't MissAt some point in your college years, you'll likely need to write a sample essay for your college admissions test. This can be very stressful for a student who is stressed out from studying. Even if you've been taking college admissions tests since you were a child, the thought of writing a long essay to prepare for a test is a daunting task.However, preparation for your college entrance exam will only improve your test scores and make you feel more confident. In this article, you'll find tips to help you learn how to prepare for your college entrance exam essay. Keep reading to get some key tips on the subject.First, try to get as much rest as possible. The last thing you want to do is start a new semester with too many deadlines, and too many things on your mind. It can also be hard to concentrate on a long essay when you're already stressed out, so try to make sure you take time off from school.Second, get organized and choose a theme for your sample essay. There are plenty of sample essays to choose from, so it's easy to get overwhelmed and end up with something bland and unoriginal. If you want to be successful at essay writing, though, you should keep your focus and stick to a specific theme.Third, go online to learn some essential tips and techniques for how to prepare for your college admission test. There are plenty of useful websites online that can help you become a better writer and familiar with the format of college essays. If you find yourself getting lost in the shuffle, you can also take advantage of these sites to see how others have prepared for their admission tests.Fourth, do your homework. You'll be writing an essay that could make or break your admission chances. Do your research and make sure you are doing your best. Reviewing your materials and carefully writing your response to each question will go a long way towards ensuring you are prepared and give the best possible essay that you can.Fifth, work on your writing skills. Don't worry about being a master writer in this instance. College admissions essays are supposed to be short and snappy, so make sure you write your essays well. Use your writing skills to great effect and you'll be a big success.It's important to remember that preparation for your college entrance test is never easy. However, if you follow the tips in this article, you should find it easier to prepare for your college entrance test. All it takes is a little time and effort.