Individual Response: Bob (Sample)

I feel that progress is seen to be positive to a large extent. In Boom, the positive impression of progress is best reflected by Boon and the Director. Boon is the new and young generation of Singapore and is in the rat race for wealth. One way in which he hopes to acquire wealth from his mother’s old flat. This can be clearly reflected in Act 1, Scene 7, where Boon tries to persuade his mother to sign the en bloc contract; ‘but it’s the perfect solution! Only you would think otherwise. You sell it on the open market, you get peanuts. Nobody’s going to throw money into a place like this. But you get everyone to sell together, that’s when it happens. I tell you, this place got potential to becomes really classy.’ Besides Boon, there are other characters in the play who see progress as a good thing, a way to a better life. For example, the male neighbour in Act 2, Scene 7 is seeing the en bloc scheme as an opportunity to start a new life and provide a better life for his family; ‘this place may be good enough for you, but not for them, okay? They deserve better than this, can’t you see?’ Hence I feel that progress is portrayed to be positive through these instances.

Individual Response: Amy (Sample)

Progress is viewed as a negative impact by the characters in Boom. In the case of the en bloc property boom, the minority of house owners had to sell their homes against their will. In which, it can even turn friendly neighbours into bitter enemies. The two conflicts can be seen in Act 2, Scene 15; ‘I’m staying here. This is my house. My walls, my ceilings, my floors, my windows, my doors, my door knobs, okay? And that. That is my tree. I swear to you, I’m not going to leave it behind.’ Also, in Act 2, Scene 7 and 8 where Boon fights and punches Male Neighbour over the signing of the en bloc contract.

However, there are other characters in the play who see progress as a good thing, a way to a better life. For example, the male neighbour in Act 2, Scene 7 is seeing the en bloc scheme as an opportunity to start a new life and provide a better life for his family; ‘this place may be good enough for you, but not for them, okay? They deserve better than this, can’t you see?’

On the whole, progress is Boom is presented as a very negative thing. Progress has caused conflict amongst Mother and Boon, her neighbours, even to the extent where Boon leaves Mother.

Task

Individual Response:

You should have finished reading Jean Tay's Boom by now. Respond in 250-300 words to the following question:

To what extent do you think progress is positive in Boom?

Criterion for assessing your individual reflection:

• You should include reason(s) why you feel progress is positive or negative.
  
• You need to provide evidence from Boom to support your reason(s).