Boon’s Monologue:
- Significance of walls: Walls can either be perceived as a symbol of entrapment or of protection. In the eyes of Boon, the house’s walls may be trapping him as he is unable to move on from the past. The walls’ dirtiness and stickers make him feel as though his life is stagnant, still trapped in his childhood. On the other side of the dichotomy, Boon’s mother once saw the house’s walls as a clean slate for herself and her family, and as a symbol of protection which she still clings to. She refers to her ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ within the walls, indicating that she’s proud that she has worker to earn her true home.
- Significance of the past: Boon seems to cling to the idea that no matter how hard you try to run away, the past is inescapable. Physical remnants (eg. stickers, stains) throughout the house constantly remind him of his painful past, even though he is desperately trying to forget these very chapters of his life.
- Significance of Superman: Superman’s character connotes feelings of empowerment, strength, and bravery. He is therefore used as an embodiment of the things Boon feels he used to be but is now far from. Superman is used to create a contrast between past and present as Boon now feels like a ‘sissy’, and that even if he wanted to identify as Superman, he’s trampled by the burden of the past and his father (which is his kryptonite)
Corpse vs Ghost: Based on Jeremiah’s monologue, corpses serve as a material past-tense version of a person which inevitably rots and decays. A ghost, on the other hand, is the embodiment of that person’s soul which can never truly die. This distinction between the physical and non-physical can also be seen when looking at Boon’s perception of the house in a physical way vs his mother’s in a sentimental way.
The character of the corpse: In a thematic sense, the corpse might be a symbol for the importance of the preservation of the past. He is the cause for Jeremiah’s inner conflict about whether to follow his Director or honour the dead, therefore he shows the audience the purpose of valuing the past and the memories that it brings you. On a dramatic level, he adds tension to the play as he conflicts Jeremiah and is also a somewhat mysterious character.
Symbol vs motif: A symbol is something that is used to represent a greater idea or concept. A motif, however, is something that continuously recurs throughout, eventually bringing out a theme.
- Motif: The motif of the sound of drilling and construction is a reminder of Singapore’s constant progress, development, and tomorrow-oriented approach. It may remind the audience that although construction is bringing success and prosperity, it goes hand in hand with the gradual destruction of the past.
- Symbol: Although it hasn’t been fully explored, the symbol of the tree might connote to the idea of staying in touch with one’s ‘roots’. In essence, this tree might be a symbol for keeping the past alive, which is why Boon isn’t fond of it in regards to the incident of being chained up to the tree as a child.