Anggita Dwi Primasiwi
Nicke Yunita Moecharam, M.A.
Exploring Fiction
24th of November 2016
An Essay of The Mandarin Exam by Farrukh Dondhy
“The Mandarin Exam” is a short story, in which, Farrukh Dhondy, the author, illustrates the true nature of free will of human being. In the name of free will, Spiggy, the main character, recklessly starts a conflict between him against the society by not taking the English exam. In fact, at the time Spiggy decides to leave the exam, he has been influenced by the prior cause, which is his friend’s offer, and there is the after effect that Spiggy does not consider. The plot of “The Mandarin Exam” reveals that the free will of a human being is not fully a freedom, and along with it there is always be the after effect that should be considered. “I don’t want to do the exam, Sir…” (line 32) says Spiggy when he is asked why he tears up his exam paper. …show more content…
On the contrary, instead of fulfilling the society’s expectation, Spiggy recklessly tears his exam paper up. Spiggy sees the English exam simply as a way for getting a job, as he states in the story “Exams and that; where’s it going to get you? A job?” (line 72). Furthermore, Spiggy also says that “I don’t want a job. I just want the loot that goes with it..” (line 72-73), he is trying to justify his action. From those two citations, it appears that Spiggy uses his free will to decide not to take the exam because he does not want to get a job. However, if the readers go back to the first paragraph and look at the third sentence, it will reveal different sense. Actually, Spiggy has to win since he has not enough money to pay the bet. Again, here, it can be seen clearly that in doing his action, Spiggy, in fact, has encountered prior events that led him to the latter action. And recklessly, Spiggy does not consider the further effect of his
Nicke Yunita Moecharam, M.A.
Exploring Fiction
24th of November 2016
An Essay of The Mandarin Exam by Farrukh Dondhy
“The Mandarin Exam” is a short story, in which, Farrukh Dhondy, the author, illustrates the true nature of free will of human being. In the name of free will, Spiggy, the main character, recklessly starts a conflict between him against the society by not taking the English exam. In fact, at the time Spiggy decides to leave the exam, he has been influenced by the prior cause, which is his friend’s offer, and there is the after effect that Spiggy does not consider. The plot of “The Mandarin Exam” reveals that the free will of a human being is not fully a freedom, and along with it there is always be the after effect that should be considered. “I don’t want to do the exam, Sir…” (line 32) says Spiggy when he is asked why he tears up his exam paper. …show more content…
On the contrary, instead of fulfilling the society’s expectation, Spiggy recklessly tears his exam paper up. Spiggy sees the English exam simply as a way for getting a job, as he states in the story “Exams and that; where’s it going to get you? A job?” (line 72). Furthermore, Spiggy also says that “I don’t want a job. I just want the loot that goes with it..” (line 72-73), he is trying to justify his action. From those two citations, it appears that Spiggy uses his free will to decide not to take the exam because he does not want to get a job. However, if the readers go back to the first paragraph and look at the third sentence, it will reveal different sense. Actually, Spiggy has to win since he has not enough money to pay the bet. Again, here, it can be seen clearly that in doing his action, Spiggy, in fact, has encountered prior events that led him to the latter action. And recklessly, Spiggy does not consider the further effect of his