Anderson Secondary School

Sec 2 Express/Normal (Academic)

English Literature

Name: _________________ ( ) Class: __________ Date: ________

How would you describe the relationship

between Albert & Ben in Scenes 1-2?

STRAINED
RELATIONSHIP

What is holding them back

How do they show love
from having a loving
towards each other?
relationship with each other?

Care for each

Lack of trust
other's welfare

Spending time
Ma's absence
together
 Anderson Secondary School
Sec 2 Express/Normal (Academic)
English Literature

A. Albert’s and Ben’s Love Languages

Big Question: What are some ways that Albert and Ben show love to each other in
Scenes 1?

i) Caring for Each Other’s Welfare

1. In Scene 1, both Albert and Ben show love towards each other through the
incident about Ben’s braces.
By referring closely to pg. 6 and 7 of your textbook, complete the table below
on how both father and son show love towards each other. Support all your
claims with textual evidence.

Incident: Ben’s braces

a. How does Ben show love
towards his father?
Hints:
 What does Ben know about
the family financial situation?
 In what ways did he show care
and concern to his father
because of the above reason?
Ben knew that family finances are tight
and his father "couldn't afford [his] braces
Thus, he told Albert "two years ago" that
he "didn't want braces once [he] found out
how much they'd cost" as he was worried
that Albert would have difficulty covering
the price of his braces,
He would rather live with crooked teeth
than see his father struggle with finances
just to fix his teeth.
b. How does Albert show love
towards his son?
Hints:
 What does Albert know about
Ben’s struggles with his
appearance as a child?
 In what ways did he show care and
concern to his son because of the
above reason?
Albert knew that Ben was already being
made fun of by his peers, where they were
"already calling him all kinds of names for
being half Indian and half Chinese."To
make matters worse, Ben had "teeth like
mahlong tiles bursting out of [his] mouth"
showing how terrible Ben's teeth were.
Furthermore, Ben was visibly affected by his
appearance,"crying like a little girl" after the
teasing and "didn't smile for one whole
year."Thus, Albert decided to get Ben braces
despite struggling to pay for it just to make
Ben less self-conscious about his appearance.

B.
 Anderson Secondary School
Sec 2 Express/Normal (Academic)
English Literature

What is holding Albert & Ben from having a loving father-son relationship?

i) Lack of Trust

2. a. Complete the graphic organiser on how Albert and Ben have a lack of trust
towards each other in Scene 1.

RECEIPTS + BRACES INCIDENT (pg. 6-7)

How is Albert being dishonest with How is Ben being distrustful of

Ben? Albert?
When Ben found receipts in albert’s desk Ben told Albert that he ‘didn’t need the
from uncle Reggie’s clinic,he ask him braces’,but Ben even ‘cried like a little girl’
about the payment and he said ‘he had a because other kids even laughed at him for his
filling done’ but he was actually paying for teeth that look ‘like mahjong titles’ and he ‘didn’t
Ben’s braces that Ben did at uncle smile for one whole ear’.Despite being upset
Reggie’s clinic 2 years ago.Albert also lied about his teeth,Ben knew that Albert was not rich
that the only reason he had Ben get his so he didn’t tell him about wanting braces.
braces at uncle Reggie’s clinic was Ben did not trust Albert's words, thus
because ‘uncle Reggie’s gave us such a he went through Albert's drawers
good discount’ but he has been ‘paying and demanded for the truth about the
200 dollars a month’ for 2 years and the receipts
truth was only because he ‘let home pay
instalments,which the government clinic
wouldn’t.’
Albert was hiding the fact that he was paying
"$200 a month" (line 34) to Uncle Reggie's
clinic.He even lied to Ben that he "had many fillings
done" (line 37) at the Uncle Reggie's clinic
when he sees the dentist at the government
clinic.

How do their actions show a lack of trust?

Both Albert and Ben had lied to each other about something that has been happening to
them for 2 years cause they didn’t trust to tell each other about every thing in their life
despite being a family.

This shows a lack of trust as Albert was not upfront in telling Ben the truth about the
payments. Ben was also suspicious of his father, so he went through Albert's drawers.
 Anderson Secondary School
Sec 2 Express/Normal (Academic)
English Literature

b. Explain the role of Uncle Reggie in escalating the conflict between Albert and
Ben.

Uncle Reggie’s presence causes dramatic tension between Albert and Ben
because it further shows the lack of trust between them.

How Albert sees Uncle Reggie How Ben sees Uncle Reggie

Albert sees Uncle Reggie as being kind
by allowing him to pay in instalments. He
views this as an act of friendship as he
was unable to come to such an
arrangement with the government clinic.
instalments,Albert has been paying
Ben thinks that Uncle Reggie is
taking advantage of his father's
financial situation by charging a
higher price for Ben's braces.He
then accuses Albert of lying that
Uncle Reggie gave him a good
discount, when in fact through
more
 Anderson Secondary School
Sec 2 Express/Normal (Academic)
English Literature

Complete the graphic organiser on how Sushila’s presence shows a lack of trust
between Albert and Ben.

SUSHILA INCIDENT (pg.

How is Ben being dishonest with How is Albert being distrustful of

Albert?
Ben was hiding the fact that Sushila is
his girlfriend and lied to his father that
she is his "friend from junior college."
Ben?
Albert did not trust Ben's words, thus
he accused Ben of having a girl
stashed away somewhere" and even
thought Sushila was pregnant.

How do their actions show a lack of trust?

This shows a lack of trust as Ben was not upfront in telling Albert the truth about Sushila.
This caused Albert to get very paranoid about Sushila's, identity,