Neighbours

Summary

Tim Winton's "Neighbours" revolves around a young couple who are initially unsettled by their new neighbors, European migrants, after moving into a new home. The couple feels a sense of disgust towards the behaviors of their Macedonian and Polish neighbors, finding their actions strange and unappealing. This discomfort leads the couple to avoid interacting with their neighbors, preferring to keep to themselves.

Despite their initial reservations, the neighbors begin to extend gestures of kindness towards the young couple. They help out by tending to the couple's kitchen garden and henhouse, gradually breaking down the barriers of cultural misunderstanding and suspicion. Over time, the couple starts to appreciate the warmth and community spirit among their neighbors, realizing that their preconceived notions about migrants were unfounded.

The turning point comes when the young woman announces her pregnancy. The neighbors react with genuine joy, showering the couple with support, gifts, and practical advice. This outpouring of goodwill surprises and touches the young man deeply, challenging his earlier prejudices. He witnesses firsthand the genuine care and solidarity among his neighbors, which contrasts sharply with his initial disdain.

As the story progresses, the young man's perspective undergoes a profound transformation. He comes to understand that human relationships and community bonds transcend cultural differences. The birth of their baby boy becomes a symbolic moment of reconciliation and understanding, as the young man is moved to tears by the heartfelt cheers and support from his neighbors.

In essence, "Neighbours" explores themes of prejudice, cultural assimilation, and the power of human connection. It illustrates how initial misconceptions can give way to mutual respect and friendship, emphasizing the universal desire for acceptance and belonging among all people, regardless of their background or nationality.

Exercise 

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions..

a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like. 

b. How did the young couple recognize their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?

c. How did the neighbours assist the young couple in the kitchen garden?

d. Why were the people in the neighbourhood shocked at the role of the young man and his wife in their family?

e. How did the neighbours respond when they learned about the woman’s pregnancy?

f. Why did the young man begin to cry at the end of the story?

g. Why did the author not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?

Reference to the context 

a. The story depicts that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacles in human relationships. Explain with some examples from this story where the neighbours have transcended such barriers.

b. The last sentence of the story says “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human relations?

c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbours are the companions for the wedding procession as well as for the funeral procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.

d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?

Reference beyond the text

a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.

b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.