ENG1501 Assignment 3 2022
1
, One of the important conflict in the plot of Small Things is the internal conflict
that the narrator experienced as a result of his imprisonment, it made him strong
but Angry human being and not fear death. This novel is about despair, love and
exclusive nature of inner happiness of an anonymous protagonist who finds it
difficult to have inner happiness. I will be looking at his internal conflict with the
following themes: love, inequality and transaction
Class and inequality are themes explored by the novel ‘’small things’’ and is
depicted and supported through the narrator’s perception of the setting in the
novel. The narrator’s experiences of being orphaned, imprisoned, in love and
expressing his opinion and creativity through his work and music links with the
settings throughout the novel in which the narrator finds himself and experiences
both external and internal conflicts. The setting is discussed and outlined how the
themes of inequality and class is outlined through the narrator’s perception of the
setting.
This extract indicates how the narrator sits and ‘’dines at a window seat’’
and the word ‘’dine’’ implies that he is in a fancy restaurant or part of an upper-
class group eating at restaurant. Here the narrator views the city on the other
side of the glass window and sees how people are ‘’chasing the remains of the
day’’ which implies a feeling of being in a rush to complete tasks and reach ‘’
delivery deadlines’’ amidst ‘’peak hour traffic’’, (Mohlele,2018:58).He notices how
there have been renovations and extensions done to the ‘’Hugh’’ where he is
attending a jazz concert. The narrator’s choice of words ‘’things have been done
to’’ implies a forceful act and carries a rather negative connotation.
The narrator’s perception of the renovated Hugh hotel is juxtaposed
against the description of the art and entertainment which occurs on the stage.
The newly renovated and classy theatre stands in opposition to the ‘’MC rappers’’
2
1
, One of the important conflict in the plot of Small Things is the internal conflict
that the narrator experienced as a result of his imprisonment, it made him strong
but Angry human being and not fear death. This novel is about despair, love and
exclusive nature of inner happiness of an anonymous protagonist who finds it
difficult to have inner happiness. I will be looking at his internal conflict with the
following themes: love, inequality and transaction
Class and inequality are themes explored by the novel ‘’small things’’ and is
depicted and supported through the narrator’s perception of the setting in the
novel. The narrator’s experiences of being orphaned, imprisoned, in love and
expressing his opinion and creativity through his work and music links with the
settings throughout the novel in which the narrator finds himself and experiences
both external and internal conflicts. The setting is discussed and outlined how the
themes of inequality and class is outlined through the narrator’s perception of the
setting.
This extract indicates how the narrator sits and ‘’dines at a window seat’’
and the word ‘’dine’’ implies that he is in a fancy restaurant or part of an upper-
class group eating at restaurant. Here the narrator views the city on the other
side of the glass window and sees how people are ‘’chasing the remains of the
day’’ which implies a feeling of being in a rush to complete tasks and reach ‘’
delivery deadlines’’ amidst ‘’peak hour traffic’’, (Mohlele,2018:58).He notices how
there have been renovations and extensions done to the ‘’Hugh’’ where he is
attending a jazz concert. The narrator’s choice of words ‘’things have been done
to’’ implies a forceful act and carries a rather negative connotation.
The narrator’s perception of the renovated Hugh hotel is juxtaposed
against the description of the art and entertainment which occurs on the stage.
The newly renovated and classy theatre stands in opposition to the ‘’MC rappers’’
2
