SUMMARY

This story explores the themes of multiculturalism, isolation, and the human need for socialization. The story begins with the migration of two newlywed couples in an Australian suburb where a cluster of people from different countries lives. The writer does not name any of the characters purposefully to generalize the characters so that the readers can identify themselves with the characters.

The young couple has just moved to a new suburb. They do not know any of their neighbors. They are disgusted by their neighbors because they only see the strange and sometimes disgusting customs; the young couple and their neighbors have prejudices against each other at first. They discover that they can be friends and that they can help one another out in their day-to-day lives, which makes everyone happy with their lives and neighborhood. The young couple lived in the vast outer suburbs before moving.

First, they don't want to talk to anyone and act like they're strangers. The so-called "young man" stays at home and works on his thesis about how literature changed over time. The "young woman" works in a hospital. After that, everyone in the neighborhood gets involved with them and offers to help. The young couple is therefore proud of their neighbors. The young woman becomes pregnant in the spring, even though the couple had no intention of having a child. Their neighbors soon learn of the pregnancy. They become friendly and willing to help which is why everyone visits them.

After the birth of their child, all of their neighbors are thrilled and wish them well. The young man finds out at the end that the twentieth-century book did not prepare him for the birth, which he views as a marvel. The man started to cry at this point as he realized that he had been harboring prejudices all along. He was enlightened that the process of writing his thesis had not adequately prepared him for life.

As a result, Tim Winston's novel "Neighbours" demonstrates how immigrants can enrich Australia's social fabric. The couple can see that intolerance, prejudice, and discrimination all stem from ignorance.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Answer the questions below.

a. Describe the layout of the young couple's home.

Despite its small size, the young couple's home had the air of an elegant cottage, with paned windows and high ceilings. From his study window, the young man could see the Moreton Bay figs in the park where they walked their dog and out over the rooftops and used car yards.

b. When the young couple first arrived, how did they identify their neighbors?

When the young couple first arrived, they had a bad impression of their neighbors. They were irritated by many things; the toddler urinating in the street followed by the screams and cries of their neighbors. The young man also detested how the neighbors helped them with their gardening. The young man's wife's work outside, while he was at home, was frowned upon by their neighbors, who were also concerned about their dog, and raised their eyebrows when they awoke late, and raised their eyebrows.

c. How did the young couple's neighbors assist them in the kitchen garden?

The young couple removed trash from their backyard and plowed and manured the soil in the fall under the watchful eye of their neighbors. They planted broad beans, leeks, onions, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, which prompted neighbors to approach the fence and offer advice on spacing, hilling, and mulching. Despite being irritated by the interruption, the young man paid close attention to what was being said. Additionally, the large woman holding a butcher's knife gave her a bag of garlic cloves to plant. The young couple's kitchen garden was helped by the neighbors in this way.

d. Why were the neighbors surprised by the young man's and his wife's role in their family?

The neighbors were still following their way of life and maybe they held an opinion that the man of the house must go out to work while the visuals they saw were the opposite of that. Therefore, I believe the neighbors were surprised by the young man’s and his wife’s role in their family.

e. How did the woman's neighbors react to her pregnancy?

When they found out she was pregnant, the neighbors kept smiling at them. Because he did not smoke, the man in the deli presented her with small chocolate gifts and cigarettes in packages.

In the summer, Italian women started giving out names. A Greek woman stopped the young woman on the street, pulled her skirt up, felt her belly, and assured her it was a boy. By the end of the summer, the neighbor had knitted the baby a suit with booties and a beanie. The young woman was simultaneously elated, confined, grateful, and irritated.

f. At the story's conclusion, why did the young man begin to cry?

At the end of the story, the young man begins to cry because he realized that his prejudices was worthless and human being a social being needs to socialize with others. He realized that the books that he read did not prepare him for real-life experiences.

g. Why do you believe that the author did not use proper names to describe the characters in the story?

I believe the author wants to highlight that in a multicultural society names and surnames are worthless and we should only perceive the human being in front of us as just a human being. The other reason could be that the writer wants the reader to relate to the character and bring a change in themselves.

REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT

a. The story demonstrates that human relationships are unaffected by language and cultural barriers. Cite instances from the story where the neighbors overcame obstacles of this kind.

The young couple appeared to have learned to shout like their neighbors, although they did not speak the same language and shared a similar culture. As a result, language and culture did not appear to play a role in their communication. The couple learned to blend in after some time of adjustment. For sure, the text demonstrates that phonetic and social hindrances make no impediment to human connections.

The young couple's garden inspired their neighbors to approach the fence and offer advice on spacing, hilling, and mulching, according to the story. The couple decided to build a hen house. With the help of one of their neighbors, they finished it, making them finally equal to everyone else. Even at dinner parties, they started inviting one another. These are some of the story's best examples of neighbors breaking through such barriers.

b. "The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this" is the story's concluding line. What differences did the young man find between human relationships and novels from the 20th century, in your opinion?

5 major themes of 20th Century novels are identity, war and conflict, power and politics, existentialism, and modernity. Almost all the novels provide insight into society, gender equality, alienation, isolation, race, ethnicity, sexuality, technology, culture, and many more. After reading all these novels he got an overall idea of society from the perspective of the novelist.

However, after they shifted to the new neighborhood and the unexpected pregnancy of his wife made he realize that one should experience the world from his perspective than rely on others’ opinions and interpretations of society. We cannot generalize the experience and opinions; however, the understanding of the world is based on individual experiences and situations. Therefore, at the end of the story, the young man finds that human relationship is the product of self-realization of the surrounding, people, openness, uniqueness, and acceptance of multiculturalism which he could not find in the perspectives of the novelist and the ideas discussed in the novels rather confused and restricted his free-thinking capabilities. Based on these aspects the writer comments that the twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this.

c. "Neighbors are companions for wedding procession as well as for funeral procession" is a proverb from Nepal. Does the story make use of this proverb? Justify.

The range of this proverb from Nepal indicates the time between the happiest moment in life and the saddest moment in life. I believe the story encapsulates this proverb because the neighbors of the young couple were there to criticize them and support them. The neighbors criticize the young man for staying at home and sending his wife to work, but at the same time, they helped them to build a kitchen garden and hen house. They also supported them when they knew that the young woman was pregnant. The writer shows that the neighbors shared the sorrows and happiness of the young couple which shows that this Nepali proverb has been made use of in the story.

d. In the story, the author addressed a multiculturalism issue. For what reasons do you suppose multiculturalism has turned into a significant issue in the current world?

Multiculturalism is made up of two words, multi means numerous and culture means the way of life. Here, ism means the theory or philosophy. Therefore, the collective meaning is the philosophy or theory of numerous ways of life. After the advent of transport people have been migrating between countries and places more frequently and easily. This has created a mix-up of people from different cultures, ethnicity, and tradition. This has brought prejudices, conflicts, segregation, clash of political ideologies, and failure to assimilate. All these social issues have created a problem for governments and people because we humans tend praising own culture and derogate others. Instead of respecting and accepting others’ reality and ideology, we have been busy suppressing both consciously and unconsciously. This clash has made it a significant issue in the current world.

REFERENCE BEYOND THE CONTEXT

a. Write an essay about the celebration of childbirth in my community with references outside of the text.

Childbirth celebrations, like every other milestone in a person's life, are an essential aspect of Hinduism. Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions, having been practiced for thousands of years. Childbirth is a pleasant moment in Hindu culture, celebrated in several elaborate and significant ways.

The celebration of childbirth begins long before the baby is delivered. Throughout the mother's pregnancy, prayers and offerings are made to the gods at temples. These rituals are vital because they serve to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and safeguard both mother and child.

The shrimant ceremony, or Godh Bharai, is the next rite related to birthing. This ceremony is usually done in the baby's mother's house. Ladies from both the mother's and father's families attend to bestow gifts and blessings on the mother and child. Rice, flowers, and sweets are among the various gifts presented to the mother, and the baby's feet are frequently adorned with henna.

A spiritual naming ceremony known as ‘Nwaran’ is done after the infant is born. The newborn's parents pick an auspicious name and formally introduce the baby to the world during this ritual. It is done on the 11th day of birth. Blessings and prayers are said, and unique rituals are performed to welcome the infant.

The Peeth Pujan is the final significant ceremonial linked with birthing. This ceremony is usually held approximately 40 days after the baby is born, and it is a symbolic means of wishing the newborn health and happiness in life. Special prayers are uttered and sacrifices to the gods are made on this occasion.

The celebration of childbirth is a lovely and profound Hindu custom that is rich in symbolism and importance. Every aspect of the celebration has significance and advises the family as well as blessings to the newborn. It's no surprise that delivery is such an essential element of Hindu culture, with such an intricate and profound ritual.