False assumptions are made by children while transitioning to adulthood. From these false accusations, we learn what is actually going around and fix our mistakes. Likewise, in the various short stories: “Sea Urchin,” by Chang-rae Lee, “The Nothingness Forest,” by Margareta Ekstrom, and “Games at Twilight,” by Anita Desai, express the obstacles and morals from childhood. Throughout these stories, the authors try to explicitly explain childhood experience by going through a young or older child’s thoughts.
Many of the children are trying something new because they believe they will get something good out of it. Throughout the short stories the authors illustrate that children make false assumptions in order to understand the world around them, which allows them to understand and learn from their mistakes. The authors convey this by writing in present tense while integrating the characters’ thoughts. Through present tense and the narrative voice, in the “Sea Urchin” and “The Nothingness Forest,” the authors convey that children make false assumptions so they can learn from their mistakes.
In the “Sea Urchin,” a teen wants to try a live sea urchin, believing it will taste good. When the narrator says, “I point to a bin and say that’s what I want,” he shows that he is curious and wants to experience something new. After he gets sick from eating the sea urchin, he decides to go back and says: “But a week later I’m better, and I go back by myself. My mouth slick with anticipation and revulsion, not yet knowing why” (Lee 215-216). ” The reason he eats it again is to learn “why” he wants it. The teen wants to learn about the outside world and grows up.
Just like the teen tries to learn about the outside world, a young toddler in “The Nothingness Forest,” expects to find greatness in a forest when she finally realizes that there is nothing and learns about people in the world. The baby girl desires to explore the world and thinks, “…one thing that is important and fun: walking” (Ekstrom 105). The toddler expects to have “fun” and believes waling is “important. ” The author shows her thoughts in the present moment and she is unaware of her false assumption.
After she punches her dog and continues walking, she thinks, “far away, no mommy, no daddy, no lady, no dog. Hungry and lonely” (Ekstrom 105-106). She realizes what actually happened and has “no mommy, no daddy,” and is “hungry and lonely. ” The author conveys that presently she has no one to help her and her assumption is wrong and that walking is as fun. She waits for someone to find her and she learns that, “the created can be lifeless, can be a thing” (Ekstrom 105-106).
Beforehand, she thought that “the created,” can be fun and full like herself, and now learns about the world that it can be “lifeless,” and dull. These thoughts that the author presents are too mature for a simple toddler to think of. Therefore, the toddler matures and learns about the world. The teen and toddler mature through their experiences and the thoughts in their mind. In “Games at Twilight,” the author conveys Ravi’s assumption that he will become popular by winning which is characterized by the present tense in the writing and going through his thoughts, which help him mature around the world.
He assumes he can become popular by winning the game and centralizes his passion to being victorious as he quickly realizes he is forgotten. As a young child he believes winning is everything and assumes he can gain popularity from it, “-and to be the winner in a circle of older, bigger, luckier children-that would be thrilling beyond imagination” (Desai 124). Presently Ravi assumes that if he wins, he would be “in a circle of older, bigger, luckier children” which leads him to hide for the rest of the day.
As he runs toward the ‘den’ he yells, “‘I won, I won, I won,’… the big tears flew… ‘Raghu didn’t find me. I won, I won-’” (Desai 125). While yelling, the other kids are confused and “the big tears flew” from his face as he starts to understand that he is forgotten. “He lay down full length on the damp grass, crushing his face into it, no longer crying, silenced by a terrible sense of his insignificance” (Desai 126). Ravi learns harshly that he can become insignificant to the world and others. He stops “crying,” and instead is “silenced,” as he matures.
He assumes he would gain popularity and be recognized for winning, but instead is completely forgotten. This symbolizes that he can be forgotten and not always remembered from his family. The authors convey that the experience of childhood is to make inaccurate assumptions so they can learn about the new world. The author illustrates this through present tense and thoughts which allows children to mature about the world. In the everyday world children often learn from their mistakes and assumptions.
Likewise, when I was a young child, I made an assumption that winning meant everything. When I was in a soccer we lost the game to move to the finals, because I missed the goal. I was heavily disappointed. That day we decided to go out and we had some pizza. My friends said, “It’s alright we can come back next season! ” My thoughts clogged my mind and I decided to practice harder. Although we lost, my teammates taught me that you won’t always win and you can learn from your mistakes.
