LEAVING

Synopsis
Leaving is set in Tanzania. It is a story of a woman who raises her five children
alone after the early death of her husband. After her two elder daughters get
married and the eldest son acquires a job, the mother focuses on the two
younger ones, Aloo and the youngest (the narrator). Aloo is in his final year in
school and the girl is in university. She pins all her hopes on them that they will
have a better education. She sells their store and moves them to Upanga. The
place is quieter and provides a better environment for them to study. The return
of Mr. Datoo, a former teacher inspires Aloo to think of furthering his education in
America. He wants study medicine. He starts writing to American universities to
get the necessary information .He is not keen on studying agriculture in a local
university. He is offered a place with a scholarship in the California Institute of
Technology. However, his mother would not allow him to accept the offer, citing
finances and fear of losing him as the reasons. Finally, on the advice of a school
officer, the mother relents and accepts the idea of allowing Aloo to leave home
for a different sky. The narrator, for the first time, sees her mother as a person
and not just as her mother-someone who has always thought only of the
children's welfare. Aloo's first letter was a graphic enthusiastic account of London
but to the mother, she is uncertain of his return.

Plot
1. Exposition: Mother and her two children move to Upanga
2. Rising action: Aloo writes to universities in America
3. Climax: Aloo is offered a scholarship to study in America and discusses the
offer with his mother
4. Falling action: The family goes to see Me Velji and mother allows Aloo to go to
America
5. Resolution: Aloo leaves for America

Character and characteristics

Main characters:
1. Aloo

youngest child in the family-doing his final year in school.

a good student who does well in school examinations, straight As.
is inspired by a former teacher who returns from America for a visit to
think of furthering his education overseas in America.
not keen on studying agriculture at a local university

diligent-writes to universities to get necessary information for further

studies
ambitious-wants to study medicine
extremely happy when offered a scholarship to study in California Institute
of Technology
spirited and courageous-willing to do part-time work while studying
tries to convince other that he will definitely return to his homeland after
his studies
obedient-willing to accept mother's decision-does not speak about
overseas education and prepares to study agriculture locally
could not suppress his excitement when mother finally allows him to go
overseas
writes from London to mother-letter so full of excitement creates doubts in
mother's mind about the future.

2. Mother

mother of the five children and runs a store in Uhuru Street-singlehandedly raises five children after early death of husband
Aloo's mother became a widow at thirty-three and had refused ever since
to marry for fear that the next husband would ask her to take her children
to the 'boarding'
thinks of the children's future-willing to sacrifice for them -closes down the
store and moves family to a quieter part of town-better environment for
studying-a big change for her
ambitious about her children's education-wants them to do well
afraid to let youngest son go for overseas education-afraid he might not
return home, take a European wife or forget his roots
at the same time wise or understanding about situation-children have to
grow up and leave home one day-but hopes to hold on to them as long as
possible
loving and caring-take steps to ensure youngest son leave for further
studies with a happy frame of mind
after receiving letter from Aloo who writes letter from London-feels unsure
that Aloo will return to hometown in Tanzania

Minor characters
1. Aloo's sibling (narrator)

second youngest in family and studying in a local university

supportive of and understands Aloo's needs to study overseas and not in
local university
loving and caring of mother and understands mother's refusal to allow
Aloo to study overseas
observant-observes mother's face and sees her as a person and not just
as their mother-recalls mother's worried unsmiling face looking after them
in her own

2. Mr. Datoo

a former teacher in Aloo's school-came back from America for a visit

it was his visit that inspired Aloo to think about his future-of studying
overseas in America

3. Mr. Velji

a school officer who gives an objective comment about Aloo's studies

overseas
knows that Aloo will get a good education but fears mother may lose a son
has an understanding look when he reads the content of Aloo's letter from
London

Themes
1. Mother's love
2. Separation from loved ones
3. Seizing opportunities
4. Sacrifice/Selflessness
5. The importance of education
6. Fear of the unfamiliar
7. courage and strength to stand up to one's principles
8. determination brings success
9. parental sacrifice for family members
10. letting go of family members to let them become independent
11. willingness to gain new experience and exposure

Moral Values
1. Hard work and patience will be rewarded
2. Good education is very important
3. we must not let opportunities pass us by.
4. We must be grateful to our parents.
5. We must try not to be judgmental about the things we do not understand