DKDC Revision - Mother's Character

At the beginning of the play, Mother [M] in DKDC is constantly nagging at Son [S], as she wants her Son to do well in 'O' Levels, to have a successful career.

Therefore, she warns Son to stay away from Grandfather [GF] and focus on his studies.

What effect does it have on Mother-Son and Son-Grandfather relationships?

• Constant nagging, without emotional support, strains the Mother-Son relationship.

• The Son needs his family's love and care, which he gets from his Grandfather (who is caring, encouraging and supportive), which brings them close.

• Both of the above

• Son understands Mother's need for control and complies with her instructions leading to a close Mother-Son relationship.

Mother's insistence on sending Grandfaher to hospital for 24/7 "hospital care", after his collapse, brings her into direct confrontation (conflict) with Son. Why?

• Mother felt overwhelmed and stressed, by single-handedly taking on multiple responsibilites as the primary caregiver for her terminally ill father, as well as being a working mother & wife.

• However, Son comes to realise about Grandfather's need for family care and support, instead of hospital care.

• Mother is in denial & unwilling to accept the reality of Grandfather's imminent death and likes to pretend that he will recover with rest and proper medical care.

• All of the above

In the beginning, Mother hides details of GF's incurable medical condition from him. However, Grandfather is displeased and annoyed.

Why does she do this?

• Being a daughter, she does not want to hurt Grandfather by telling him that he is going to die due to a terminal (incurable) illness.

• She is uncomfortable with the role reversal (her caring for GF, which she is not used to) & also finds it difficult to accept that she will lose her father who had always cared for & supported her.

• Both of the above options

• Mother wanted Grandfather to die peacefully in his sleep.

Grandfather feels that he is a burden because of Mother's behaviour. Why?

• Although Mother becomes the main care-giver and ensures Grandfather has rest and proper medical care, she holds back her worries from him and does not openly (honestly) communicate with GF about his medical condition.

• GF is annoyed that M does not allow Son to interact with him.

• Mother insults Grandfather at every opportunity.

What forces Mother to change at the end?

• Mother was severely scolded by GF.

• Son's intervention after Grandfather's collapse, makes her realise that she cannot do everything on her own and that family members working together is a sign of mutual love and care.

• Son is no longer selfish, but had become loving and caring.

• She no longer wanted to be a control freak.

At the end of the play, Grandfather says: "This is all I want. To be with my family".

Grandfather no longer considers himself a burden on his family because there is ___________ communication and he gets his family's love and care. He dies a satisfied man and in peace.