Page 1 - Going places - Lesson notes

LESSON NOTES

GOING PLACES-A.R. Barton

The theme of this story is adolescent fantasizing and hero worship. It is quite natural for
teenagers to have unrealistic dreams especially when their families are not well off. It is
because of the fact that the socioeconomic background plays a leading role in the lives
of the youths for choosing a particular profession. The act of fantasizing may lead to
miseries in case it is beyond our approach. It is useless to build castles in the air.

The Day-Dreamer Sophie-

- Sophie and Jansie are both in the last year of high school and both knew that they were
destined to work in the biscuit factory as they belong to a working class family.

- Yet, Sophie, always dreams of big and beautiful things, glamour and glory. Her
ambitions are not rooted in reality i.e., have no relation with the harsh realities of life

.
- Sophie dreams to have her own boutique that will be the best in the city. She wishes to
buy it as soon as she gets money. She also says that she can become an actress if she
gets to run a boutique on the side. Since she has no experience and no money to make
her wish come true, it can be called a dream and not a plan.

- In contrast is Jansie, Sophie’s friend, a realistic and practical girl. Jansie is practical and
knows that both, she and Sophie are destined to work at the biscuit factory. She advises
Sophie to be sensible as she does not have the money or experience to own a boutique.
Jansie is very well aware of her financial background.

- Sophie and Jansie are extremely different. Sophie is an escapist and dreams big. She
wishes for things that are far away from her reach. Jansie is practical and knows her
stature. She is aware of her situation and that money and experience can take you a
long way.

- When they reach home, Sophie enters into her house and turns the door. Jansie is left
alone in the rain. Sophie is still murmuring the same sentence that if she will get money,
she will buy a boutique. Someone in the house teases her that if she ever has money,
she should buy a good house for her family.
Sophie’s Family also Rubbishes her dreams-

- Sophie’s father was eating a shepherd’s pie. His face was unclean with dirt and sweat.
Her younger brother Derek, said to his father that Sophie thought that money grew on
trees. He also felt that she was not realistic.

- Sophie noticed her working in the kitchen. It was turning dark and the house was full of
steam and the kitchen was messed up with litter.