Leaving

M.G Vassanji
 Elements of the short
story
Physical Setting: Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania
Social Setting: Present day, Tanzania
Characters:Main: Aloo, Mother, The
Narrator
Minor: Mr Datoo, Mr Velji,
Firoz,
Razia, Mehroon
 Synopsis

The story is about Aloo, an ambitious boy who

is determined to study abroad and achieve
his dreams.
Aloo wants to study medicine and not
agriculture
His mother however was reluctant to let him
go as she worries that he might not come
back and he might marry a white woman.
In the end, the mother lets him go and Aloo is
able to study abroad
 Themes
Sacrifice/Selflessness
Mother has to make sacrifices while taking
care of her children without a husband.
She always puts her children first and refuses
to remarry if she had to leave her children
She lets Aloo to achieve his dream and
pursue his studies abroad even though she
might never see him again
 Themes
Determination/Ambitions
Aloo is determined to seek for a better
opportunity abroad instead of studying
locally.
Aloo writes to the universities to seek for a
scholarship and studies hard to make his
dreams come true
Aloo has a hunger to learn more than what
his little town has to offer and seems to soak
up all the new things he sees and
experiences in London
 Themes

Courage to stand up to ones

principle
Aloo stood up to his believe despite being
disagreed by mother. Aloo felt that he should
be allowed to accept the scholarship and
study abroad.
He promised to work his way through college
to repay the loan and to not let his mother
down
 Moral Values

We need to be determined in order to achieve

success
We need to be grateful to our parents.
Parents are willing to sacrifice anything for
the happiness of their own children
We should be courageous to stand up for our
own principle
We need to seize the opportunities given to
us
 Question

If you are Aloos

mother, would you let
him go to America?
Why?