Analysis on a Quid of Sirih and a Bowl of Water

The story ‘A Quid of Sirih and a Bowl of Water’ is a story about a family of pawang with a son who is studying medicine in the university to be a doctor one day. The setting, the symbol of a pawang and the conflict that occurs between the father and son about modern versus traditional healing has conveyed a deeper thought. When analyzing the story, our group found several interesting ideas that we would like to share regarding the time and the setting of the story, the kampung malay lifestyles, the father and son character, modern versus traditional and the element of irony in the story.

The story was written long ago somewhere during the time when the development of science and technology is being introduced and taking place in the society. Modernism at that time is unavailable in the kampong, the setting in this story, due to lack of basic infrastructure such as roads and telephone access in rural areas. Although the kampong people are lack of these basic needs, they go to clinics and hospitals in the cities if they have the means usually some amount of money. Farid, one of the characters in the story, manage to go to school and later further his studies in the university. This shows that kampong people are accepting the modern advancement and yet still holding to their belief in pawang. We can guess that it take place long time ago. This can be seen in page 95, paragraph 5, line 1, “Father! I want twenty-cents to buy a book and pencil.” From this sentence, it suggest to us the time it happen somewhere down in the past when books and pencils can be bought at only 20 cents.

The lifestyles of the local kampong people can be seen through their daily activities and meal. The foods are of original Malay dishes such as daging rebung, roasted chicken, yellow pulut. These meals are easy to get within their community and if they were to buy those items, it would cost less. The writer probably wants show that people during that time are not yet influenced by the ‘fast food culture’ where the dishes are homemade and they are people of limited means. Their daily activities such as rearing chicken as part of their income and source for food. They also cultivate greens in the orchard (kebun) and smoke local cigarettes that can be seen in page 95, paragraph 11, line 2,
“The old man was calmly rolling a palm leaf cigrette.”
They also practices helping between one another as part of their lifestyles, as quoted in page 96, paragraph 12, line 2,
“Give whatever help I can. Isn’t that our way in the kampong? Always helping one another?”

As we look into their daily lifestyles, we realized that these people are going through a hard time earning their money. Yet the money that they got is very limited to support themselves and their family.

The climax of the story is the conflict that occurs between Farid and his father. As we examined it closely the conflict might have sparked from the humiliation he received from the teacher when he was in school long time ago. This can be seen in page 94, paragraph 6, line 2.
“Last time it was you who made fun of me. “Son of Pak Seman the water-seller. Don’t believe in pawangs. They’re all quacks…”

The conflict also occurs because of Farid’s attitude of being such a self-centered person. He only think about himself worried so much as to what people might think or say about him being a doctor while his father is ‘pawang’ and feel ashamed to have a ‘pawang’ for a father. Page 96, paragraph 2, line 4.
‘“Think a little, father. What will people say. I want to be a doctor. And here you are – a ‘pawang’! Doesn’t the conflict between your world and mine bother you at all?” He took a deep breath.
“So you are ashamed to have a ‘pawang’ for a father?” retorted Pak Seman. There is a hint of mockery in his smile.
Farid was silent for a while. He felt like telling him frankly, “Yes, I am.”’

As quoted in the paragraph above, it shows that he is not just rude and ungrateful by looking down at his own father. He is also a contrast to his father’s character. His father cares for his family and people around him such as the teacher and the kampong people. Farid on the other hand being self-centered and ignorant, he fails to see that his father’s job do more than citing verses to a bowl of water’ His father is a responsible, kind hearted and generous man. His job as a ‘pawang’ is a source of income to the family and helps those villagers who are in need. He did not set any payment but accepted any alms given by these people. This shows that Farid failed to recognize the good intention that his father had offered to the villagers all this while. He also failed to see that his father become ‘pawang’ as one way to support the family which sends him to the university. In another word he is carrying out his responsibility as the head of the family and function as a good villager.

The conflict also arises due to Farid’s ignorance of his father’s job as ‘pawang’. Several misunderstandings of the son regarding his father’s job as ‘pawang’ can be seen from the way he define the ‘pawang’ job. He thinks that what his father is saying are bunch of nonsense. As quoted in page 94, paragraph 16, line 2,
‘Pak Seman had finished his incantations. Whatever it was been muttering Farid did not bother to find out. Most likely some silly verses, he thought.”
To him his father also promotes superstitions among the villagers, as in page 97, paragraph 2, line 1,
‘“But why encourage their superstition?”’

Due to his lack of knowledge about his father being a ‘pawang’, he also sees his own father as a threat. He thinks that his father’s job as ‘pawang’ will only serves to hinder the progress made by the government like going to the clinic as seen in paragraph12, line 2,
“…your old-fashioned ways are preventing our kampung people from accepting changes.”

The story foreshadows the conflict that will occur in the story that is about logic versus beliefs, this can be seen in page 96, paragraph 2 line 1, when the mother tries to pacify his anger from not being able to get the chicken. She believes that if the dish ‘daging rebung’ is well prepared, it tastes similar to the roasted chicken. He snapped at his mother by saying that there is no logic at all. In the story later again the logic become the issue in comparing between his father’s job as ‘pawang’ with the medical technology that has been proven to cure diseases as can be seen in page 96, paragraph 7, line 1,

“We are living in the age of science and technology, not of magic and spells. Today we have hospitals. We have doctors. We have all kinds of medicine for all kinds of diseases. You can’t go on prescribing cold water anymore… Can’t you see there’s no logic in all this?”

In sequence to this part of the story, it brings us to the logic that justifies the reason behind his father’s job as ‘pawang’. The main theme in this part of the story is having trust in a person. In order for something to happen, one must believe and trust them. The father believes that his job as a ‘pawang’ can help the villagers to solve their problems, health and needs. He believes that it is also similar to the doctor’s aim that is to help their patient with their health problems. The only difference is that the ‘pawang’ serves in kampong where the doctors at that time serves in cities. If there is doctor in the kampong area, the doctor will also serve the same purpose that is to help the villagers. That is why Pak Seman is hoping that Farid will become a doctor one day and serves the villagers health’s need better than a ‘pawang’ like himself. But, it is the fate that decides in the end whether their effort is successful or not.
“To see you one day become a doctor. What I am doing is only temporary – while waiting for you to graduate.”

‘Pawang’ also becomes the symbol of hope. When all the helps from science and technology have no positive effects on them, they will turn to ‘pawang’ as their last resort to help them achieve their needs. This can be seen from page 94, paragraph 12, line 1,
“Farid did not waste any time. “All this is for someone, I suppose,” he asked cikgu Ali with a knowing smile.
“My sick child.” The reply was short. Cikgu could picture his child lying prostrate at home. His face darkened with anxiety.
“Have you taken him to the hospital?” Farid was really eager to know.
“I have,” he answered weakly.
And continuation in page 95, paragraph 2, line 1,
“Cikgu Ali nodded as he listen. He accepted the water reverence, hoping that it will cure his child.”

In the paragraphs quoted above clearly show how a teacher who is well respected and even mocked at Farid before turn to Farid’s father as his last hope to find a cure to his sick child. He only turn to Pak Seman with hope to cure the child when he had sent his child to the hospital but his child did not heal and therefore all the hope with the high technology is gone.

The villagers will also turn to ‘pawang’ when they are in hope of achieving something or need to put in some luck. This can be seen in page 100, paragraph2, line 1,
“Tumin has been accepted in the army,” declared Pak Dali proudly.
“How wonderful!” Remarked Mak Limah.
“May be it’s the blessing of your water,” Pak Dali laughed happily.

In these lines, we can see that the kampung headman turn to Pak Seman for some blessing for his son as an addition to their effort. He hoped that his wish to see his son to be accepted in the army will come true.

The writer closes the story with the element of irony in the story which is the a father, who is the bread sole winner of the family, that earns his living from becoming a pawang, sends his son to study medicine in university so that one day he will become a doctor and it turns that his son becomes ungrateful. Second, the ungrateful son who despises his father’s job as a ‘pawang’ relies on his father’s money to send him back to the university. As quoted in page 101, the last paragraph, line 1,
“My mumbo-jumbo conjured that up, if you want to know.”