The Cricket

The Cricket

-Plu Sung-ling

(China)

·        Theme:-

ð This story is about the cricket fighting culture of china which has been in the practice from Ming dynasty.

ð We should keep hope even at last stage of life

ð A lucky person gets success at the end.

ð The cruel nature of tyrant rulers in shown in it.

·        Characters:

ð Magistrate

ð Make-Good

ð Make Good's Son

ð Make Good's Wife

ð Hunch back fortune teller

ð A Cricket

·        Literal Comprehension:

This story "The Cricket" is about the Chinese tradition of Cricket fighting. Plu Sung-Ling, the writer has presented the famous culture of china, which is still popular from the Ling Di nasty.

                        The rulers liked to get entertainment from cricket fighting. So they gave the order to Magistrate also gave the order to the village hood head  Make-Good was a person who was made the village hood head through he didn't like to be. He was ordered to bring a Cricket with in 15 days, but he couldn't get it. Then Make-Good was punished with hundred strokes on his leg until they were bleeding.  Again he was told to bring cricket with in 3 days. Otherwise he would be killed. Make-Good's wife suggested him to go to the hunch back fortune teller. The fortune teller gave them a map & they also got success to get a golden cricket by the side of a mountain. Make- Good kept it into bamboo tube & brought to his house. When Make-Good's son opened the tube the cricket escaped. When he tried to catch it was killed. The son felt guilty that because of his work, his father would be killed so he jumped into well to die. He was pulled out but he was unconscious for a year under his body. Make-Good got a very small and dirty cricket. Next day in the competition, the small cricket defeated all the crickets and even the rooster. The small cricket was taken to the palace and here also it becomes the winner Make-good was awarded with a house and a lot of property. When he came his house he found that his son was in consciousness. His son told that he was reborn as a small cricket when he was unconscious and he has defeated all the other crickets.

·        Interpretation:

This story presents the ancient Chinese tradition of cricket fighting. Plu-sung Ling has presented the cruel nature of the Tgrant rulers. It also tells us that we should not leave our hope because luck can favor sometimes at the end. In this story Make-Good got success at the end when his cricket got victory over all the cricket.

·        Critical Thinking:

 This Story has many on unacceptable issues. How could Make-Good son remain unconscious for a year? How it is possible to reborn as a cricket though he was unconscious bot dead? How could a cricket defeat the rooster? These things are just for the enjoyment for children However, It represents the Chinese tradition of cricket fighting.

·        Assimilation:

This story reminded me that bull fighting of my village. As like cricket fighting, people take enjoyment with bull fighting in Nepal. In Kathmandu, people celebrate a festival of bull fighting called Bhokhu Jatra. In Japan there is the culture I beetle fighting. In Mexico there is the culture of cocks fighting. In every culture we see the animal fighting tradition as the means of entertainment.