Romesh Gunesekera’s Reef (1994) explores the coming to consciousness of Triton, the protagonist, who enters Mr Salgado’s household as a servant and experiences a range of self-realizations as he matures under Mr Salgado’s tutelage. Their master-servant relationship is initially clearly defined within this dichotomy, but begins to shift when Mr Salgado accords Triton with a sense of self-worth which he never possessed, complicating his position as a marginalised figure. When Miss Nili, Mr Salgado’s love interest becomes a part of the household, her presence introduces a new dynamic within Triton and Mr Salgado’s relationship, but also in the way Triton perceives himself. It becomes evident that Triton is both an insider and outsider to Mr Salgado’s
…show more content…
Nili was a Christian it is indicated when she says” a Christmas party” this indicate that she is a Christian because it is only Christians who celebrate Christmas. Mister Salgado is a Buddhist. When the fell in love mister Salgado becomes more relaxed and calm he even forgets about the Carol Reef project. The moving in of Nili in the house brought joy and happiness even in Mister Slagado’s life. Their relationship in some way involved Triton, because now Nili and Triton were getting along. That is why Triton felt like they were a family. However later on mister Salgado and Nili’s separate, because mister Salgado suspects that Nili is cheating on him with Robert. This is in context with the country been colonized by the Americans. This follows their intense quarrel, were mister Salgado is subjected to Nili’s whispering swearing when they were coming back from the party. This period is similar to the political turmoil which surrounds them. It indicates a spoilt paradise. Where people of different religion do not see eye to eye, due to a fail...
Mister Salgado, Triton, even American Robert all choose Miss Nili as their taste of fantasy - significantly it is only much later that Triton acknowledges "how little
I had seen of her, really" (156). When Miss Nili first enters the lives of Mister
Salgado and Triton,
Nili was a Christian it is indicated when she says” a Christmas party” this indicate that she is a Christian because it is only Christians who celebrate Christmas. Mister Salgado is a Buddhist. When the fell in love mister Salgado becomes more relaxed and calm he even forgets about the Carol Reef project. The moving in of Nili in the house brought joy and happiness even in Mister Slagado’s life. Their relationship in some way involved Triton, because now Nili and Triton were getting along. That is why Triton felt like they were a family. However later on mister Salgado and Nili’s separate, because mister Salgado suspects that Nili is cheating on him with Robert. This is in context with the country been colonized by the Americans. This follows their intense quarrel, were mister Salgado is subjected to Nili’s whispering swearing when they were coming back from the party. This period is similar to the political turmoil which surrounds them. It indicates a spoilt paradise. Where people of different religion do not see eye to eye, due to a fail...
Mister Salgado, Triton, even American Robert all choose Miss Nili as their taste of fantasy - significantly it is only much later that Triton acknowledges "how little
I had seen of her, really" (156). When Miss Nili first enters the lives of Mister
Salgado and Triton,