COMPARISON OF TWO CHARACTERS IN EVERYTHINGS ARRANGED Characterization is the act of describing individual personality of essential features.

It is the art of creating character for a narrative, including the process of conveying information about them. A well-developed character is one that has been thoroughly characterized, with many traits shown in the narrative. The story that I have chosen for my assignment is Everythings Arranged, written by Siew Yue Killingley. The story briefly about Rukumani, a Ceylonese girl who was having a secret affair with a boy named Devanayagam, also a Ceylonese in their University. Both of them were deeply in love. However, this young couple, especially Rukumani had struggle and suffered because of their family members, relatives and their community as they try to get together in life. Her marriages were arranged against her own wish. As from the story, the setting of the story might be around early stage after our countrys independence. During that time, love marriages are still alien to Indian cultural. The typical India Community thought fall in love as a big sin and only arranged marriage is allowed. The conflict of the story is about the rejection of love marriages by old generation. From the short story, Everythings Arranged, I have investigated and studied two characters to make characteristic comparison between both of them. I have chosen Rukumani and Johnny Chew, because both of characters have their own pros and contrasts. Based on my observation, I found that Rukumani and Johnny Chew shared some features in common. For example, both of them are not racist. It can be seen in the short story that Rukumani was concerned when she saw a Chinese woman seemed quite stressed about her children who were spilling all over two seats, and Rukumani did not mind to share her seat with the Chinese womans children. (Pg.188 line 3). This point is pretty similar to Johnny Chew. He also chatted and greet with his classmate, Rukumani who is Indian, which is different race-type from him without any hesitation. This also can be seen in the story when he coolly sitting on the arm of Rukumanis seat in front of the public in the train. (Pg.188 line 32). Apart from that, Rukumani and Johnny Chew love economic. It can be proved that they were taking same course in the university and they were even a colleague. (Pg.188 line 21). Rukumani took out her economic book; Benhams Economics and

read it in while she was in a train. (Pg.188 line 12). Meanwhile, for Johnny Chew, he knew all the impressive technical terms used by overpowering economists like Benham, Hanson, and Keynes. He also remembered and often used in his essays economic terms coined by the lecturers. This shows that he was really interested in the subject and put his whole effort on it at all times. (Pg.188 line 23) Besides that, both of them became a love-messenger to each other. From the story, Johnny Chew helped Rukumani in sending love letter to her boyfriend, Devanayagam when she was in a bad situation where she was being forced to get married to her distant relation who she hasnt meet yet. (Pg.199 line 34). Meanwhile, Rukumani helped Johnny Chew by telling him about the girl he admired, Amy Wong. (Pg.200 line 4). Hence, it proved that both of them showed similarity and shared common features by helping each other. (Pg.199 line 28) Yet, there are also differences between Rukumani and Johnny Chews characters that can be seen in this short story. First and foremost, both of them were different in term of race. Rukumani came from a Ceylonese Tamils family background whereas Johnny Chew was a Chinese. From this, we knew that both families obviously practiced different lifestyle and culture. In Rukumanis family, her parents were very passive and conservative. They firmly hold onto their old traditions and cultures. Rukumani was not given any freedom to mingle or to socialize with opposite gender even they were similar in skin colour. Her marriage was already being arranged by her family indicate their conservativeness. (Pg.192). Meanwhile, Johnny Chews family was modern and open-minded. They did not mind to socialize with anybody. Johnny had the freedom from his family and he really liked it. As the evident, Johnny has said in the story that he didnt enjoyed living at his town because he said that there are too many eyes and mouths and he did not feel the freedom living there. (Pg.199 line 14). Besides, when Johnny Chew came to Rukumanis house, it seemed like atom bombs Hiroshima and Nagasaki plunge into gloom. Rukumanis parents were extremely upset and ashamed of her attitude. (Pg.200 line 10). In addition, the whole thing was getting worse when Rukumani was caught by her brother, Nadarajah or Boy while passing her love letter to Johnny Chew. Her parents started to blame each other for their wrongdoing of teaching their children. (Pg.201 line 23). On the other hand, Johnny Chew and his family were very relaxed upon his visit to Rukumanis house. (Pg.199 line 3)

Apart from that, the other dissimilarity between Rukumani and Johnny Chew is the level of cleverness. Clearly from the story, Johnny was a smart and excellent student compared to Rukumani who was only an average student. Johnny Chew was being called by his friends as the walking economics bible and everyone already betted that he was surely going to get first class. (Pg.188 line 22). However, as for Rukumani, she did tell her father that she always asked for Johnnys helped in her study. This statement explains that she is not as brilliant as Johnny and she needed to be assisted in her study. (Pg.190 line 17) Moreover, their perception on marriage and love also contrast to each other. Rukumani believed that marriage was pure such a spiritual thing. (Pg. 186 line 10). She was ready to be faithful towards her husband, until at one point, she willing to sacrifice herself. This can be proved when she wrote to the paper in Auntie Sally column to express her feeling at that time. (Pg.195 line 23). This is a total opposite from what Johnny Chews thought about marriage and love. As for Johnny, a wife and a girlfriend are two different things. This denoted that Johnny was a playboy. For him, marriage is a trap. He did not wished to get married too soon because he thought a job of minding a woman was giving him worse headache and it was much harder than marking essays. (Pg. 189 line 24) Everythings Arranged is an attractive short story which give us a picture of arranged marriages practised by the Indian communities. To sum up, the two characters that I have chosen, Rukumani and Johnny Chew are very interesting and unique in their own ways. The writer of the story managed to develop these characters very well. Both characters Rukumani and Johnny Chew have been thoroughly characterized with various personality. It is a natural behavior of a human being. We do look alike nevertheless we have varying attitudes and manners which make this world fascinating.

DIFFERENCES Rukumani came from a Ceylonese Tamils family background. In Rukumanis family, her parents were very passive and conservative. They firmly hold onto their old traditions and cultures. Rukumani was not given any freedom to mingle or to socialize with opposite gender even they were similar in skin colour. Her marriage was already being arranged by her family indicate their conservativeness. (Pg.192). Johnny Chews family was modern and open-minded. They did not mind to socialize with anybody. Johnny had the freedom from his family and he really liked it. As the evident, Johnny has said in the story that he didnt enjoyed living at his town because he said that there are too many eyes and mouths and he did not feel the freedom living there. (Pg.199 line 14). Johnny Chew was a Chinese.

Both of them were different in term of race and their families obviously practiced different lifestyle and culture.

Besides, when Johnny Chew came to Rukumanis house, it seemed like atom bombs Hiroshima and Nagasaki plunge into gloom. Rukumanis parents were extremely upset and ashamed of her attitude. (Pg.200 line 10). In addition,

Johnny Chew and his family were very relaxed upon his visit to Rukumanis house. (Pg.199 line 3)

the whole thing was getting worse when Rukumani was caught by her brother, Nadarajah or Boy while passing her love letter to Johnny Chew. Her parents started to blame each other for their wrongdoing of teaching their children (Pg.201 line 23).

LEVEL OF CLEVERNESS

As for Rukumani, she did tell her father that she always asked for Johnnys helped in her study. This statement explains that she is not as brilliant as Johnny and she needed to be assisted in her study. (Pg.190 line 17)

Johnny was a smart and excellent student compared to Rukumani who was only an average student.

Johnny Chew was being called by his friends as the walking economics bible and everyone already betted that he was surely going to get first class. (Pg.188 line 22).

PERCEPTION ON LOVE AND MARRIAGE

Rukumani believed that marriage was pure such a spiritual thing. (Pg. 186 line 10).

As for Johnny, marriage is a trap. (Pg. 189 line 26)

For him, a wife and a She was ready to be faithful girlfriend are two different

towards her husband, until at one point, she willing to sacrifice herself. This can be proved when she wrote to the paper in Auntie Sally column to express her feeling at that time. (Pg.195 line 23).

things. This denoted that Johnny was a playboy. He did not wished to get married too soon because he thought a job of minding a woman was giving him worse headache and it was much harder than marking essays. (Pg. 189 line 24)