Who Needs It? - Vilas Manivat

Who Needs It? Like really who needs to sacrifice sleep for money? This story is about a man, Nai Phan, who has his own shop, is happy with what he has and is willing to give to others no matter what. Others around him are greedy for money (to be rich, like who isn't?), and always wonder how Nai Phan is happy with his life with just average money. A stranger comes into the shop and demands that he takes all of the money. Nai Phan makes him realize that getting the money like this will not make the situation better.

i) Time - Line

• Nai Phan's introduction
• Others involvement in the community
• Stranger with gun into shop
• Nai Phan talks to stranger
• Stranger realizes his wrong
• Stranger hands Nai Phan the gun
• Stranger disappears

ii) Action "outside" story

Community members working to make money for families

"People who lived in the lane, returning home late at night after a long day spent chasing money, would see Nai Phan reclining in his little deck chair, chatting contentedly with his wife."

Kids going to school

iii) Initial Incident

• Stranger gets somewhat introduced in
• Walks into shop
• Stranger points gun at Nai Phan
• Demands money

"'Hand over your cash,' the young man snapped roughly, 'all of it; whatever you have....'

iv) Epiphany

Stranger recognizes his mistake

This is not the way to provide for yourself/family

v) Identify The Story Map

R.A. - "It's better to go to bed than get rich quick!" said Nai Phan

Crisis - Stranger rushes in shop and points gun at Nai Phan

Falling Action - Nai Phan giving advice/lecturing the stranger

Resolution/Denouement - Stranger leaving with the advice without harming Nai Phan

https://play.kahoot.it/#/lobby?quizId=cb70ed92-a8e2-4e0f-9339-137ea955f166

Conflict

Characters & Characterization

Protagonist

Human vs. Human

Nai Phan - Main Character, Round, Protagonist

Inferences - 30 - 40 years old, black hair, brown eyes, crinkles around his eyes from the constant smiling, kind, a lot of wisdom graces his mind, great cook, generous and caring.

"Nai Phan was one of the neighbourhood celebrities.,... he would have been famous, for he was ready to allow his customers unlimited credit." Vilas Manivat

'"What can I do for you, sir?" Nai Phan asked.

Instead of replying, the stranger produced a gun and levelled it at his heart. Nai Phan did not understand, but he felt that matters were getting out of hand."

The Stranger - Important Secondary character, Dynamic & Flat, Antagonist

Young male, maybe late teens early twenties, confused on morals, has obedience like a child.

Author may have wanted readers to imagine how he would look in their eyes.

Nai Phan's Wife - Secondary & Flat

Kind, sometimes weary on how Nai Phan gives so easily, and understanding.

"He liked to give children sweets without asking for money. Of course this always caused his wife to complain,..."

Antagonist

Human vs. Self

Community Members - Secondary & Flat

'"I ought to shoot myself instead of shooting you," he said.

Children - Secondary & Flat

.

Plot

Narration

Key Component

Theme is a major key component in this short story.

Limited Omniscient

Provides the reader with something to think about, something that will stay with them after they have finished the story.

'He liked to give children sweets without asking for money. Of course this always caused his wife to complain, but he would reply: "Twenty satangs worth of sweets won't reverse the family fortunes."'

Theme doesn't have to be profound, but it must always be true to the storyteller.

One of the most fundamental motives for writing novels is to reveal the truth as you see it, to share your life experiences and show people what this world looks like through your eyes.

'People who lived in the lane, returning home late at night after a long day spent chasing money, would see Nai Phan reclining in his little deck chair, chatting contentedly with his wife. Then they would think to themselves: "How happy they look, free from hankering after wealth. They are better off than us."'

Gives the reader a better understanding of life.

Without theme it will leave the reader unsatisfied.

'He placed the money on the table but the young gunman did not seem able to get up enough courage to touch it.'

Theme forces you to bring your feelings out into the open, to analyze them, to come to terms with them, and hopefully leave them behind as you move on if they are negative.

Theme

Setting

• Imaginary
• Present/Past
• Imagery - Nice Small Neighbourhood
• Imagery/Hearing - Children Coming From School
• Hearing- Light Chit-Chat
• Smell/Taste - Sweets & Coffee

Happiness

"Nai Phan was one of the neighbourhood celebrities."

'He liked to give children sweets without asking for money.'

'Then they would ask themselves: "How happy they look, free from hankering after wealth. They are better off than us."'

'The Thai Khun, a high official who lived in the lane, used to say to his boy when he fancied a good cup of coffee: "Go and bring coffee from Nai Phan's. He puts in plenty of milk; you'd think he kept a cow for the purpose!"'

'During the rains Nai Phan would say to the young girl students: "Young ladies, you have been wading in mud with difficulty. From now on you can carry your shoes to my shop to put them on." He would always give them clean water to wash their feet.'

"...For years I have been thinking, 'Let me meet a man who has not grown evil with the world's evil, so that I can believe that there is still goodness, so that I can have the strength to go on living.' Now I have met such a man. You have given me everything I wanted. There is nothing more to give. I am going home now. Certainly in my mind, I shall never hate the world again. I have discovered at last the sort of life I want to lead."

The author is trying to teach us that money isn't going to make us happy and true happiness comes from being true to yourself.

Also, saying that Life is more than money. :) > $$$

Who Needs It? - Vilas Manivat

Summary