Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. Both of them belonged to mediocre families. Yet Sophie was much more ambitious than Jansie. Sophie told Jansie that she is going to have a boutique. Jansie, who is more practical and realistic, tells Sophie that a lot of money is required to have a boutique.

Sophie says that she will find the money. Then Jansie tells her that it takes a long time to save that much of money. Then Sophie says that to begin with, she will be a manager till she has got enough money. Jansie tries to make Sophie understand that they will not make Sophie a manager straight off. Sophie still says that she will have the most wonderful shop in the city. So Sophie besides being impractical had a wavering mind also.

Jansie felt sad thinking that both of them Eire most likely to work in the biscuit factory after school. Jansie also tries to make Sophie understand that she should be sensible as they do not pay well for shop work. Sophie insisted that she would become an actress and have a boutique beside that. She said that she might be a fashion designer. Thus we find that Sophie is over-ambitious, impractical and rather a day dreamer. But, on the other hand, Jansie is more practical and has a firm mind.

Question - 12 : -
How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father ?

Answer - 12 : -

Sophie’s father is an authoritarian, somewhat short-tempered person who is a sports lover also. He seems to be fun-loving also because when the United team wins, he goes to the pub to celebrate. He had a plump face. When Geoff told his father that Sophie met Danny Casey, he looked at her with an expression of contempt. Then he starts discussing about the young, talented Irish player Danny Casey.

When Sophie said that Danny Casey is going to buy a shop, he made an ugly expression with face to show disgust. He said to Sophie that it was another of her wild stories. He did not believe at all that Sophie might have met Danny Sophie seems to be somewhat scared of her father. Sophie tells Jansie that there will be a “right old row” if her father gets to hear about it. She also says to Jansie about her father- “You know what a misery he is.”

Question - 13 : -
Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person ? From her perspective, what did he symbolise ?

Answer - 13 : -

Sophie was very much fond of her elder brother Geoff, who was an apprentice mechanic. He would travel to his work each day to the far side of the city. He was almost grown though he left school three years ago. Geoff spoke very little. Sophie felt that when he was not speaking it was as though he was away somewhere – out there in the world in those places she had never been.

These places had a special fascination for Sophie because they were unknown to her and remained out of her reach. She thought that there were also exotic and interesting people of whom Geoff never spoke. She longed to know them. She wished that her brother some day might take her there with him. Thus, from Sophie’s point of view her brother symbolised a person who could acquaint her with “the vast world out there,” which was totally unknown to her. Her love and likeness is shown by the fact that s she told Geoff only when she met Danny Casey.

Question - 14 : -
What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to ? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status ?

Answer - 14 : -

From the story ‘Going Places’ it emerges that Sophie belonged to a mediocre or rather poor socio-economic background. She aspires to have a boutique, but she has no means or money to fulfil her dreams. After school she is most likely to work in a biscuit factory.

When she says that if ever she has money she will buy a boutique, her father says that if she ever has money, she would better buy them a decent house to live in. That shows that their house must have been in a shabby condition. The small room of their house was “steamy from the stove and the dirty washing was filed up in the corner. Her brother Geoff was an apprentice mechanic.

He had to travel to his work each day to the far side of the city. Her father had a bicycle which we came to know when Sophie saw it propped against the wall of the pub. Thus we can say that Sophie belongs to a poor family. Their social life seems to be confined to watching the matches played by the United team.

Question - 15 : -
Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.

Answer - 15 : -

Sophie belongs to a poor, mediocre family. But she aspires to have a boutique though she has neither means nor resources for it. Then she wants to be a manager till she saves enough money to buy a boutique. Jansie, who is more practical, tells Sophie to be sensible because it will take a very long time to save for that purpose. Then she thinks that she would be an actress because there is real money in it. Besides it, she can then open a boutique.

Sophie is a sort of day-dreamer. She wants to achieve in her dreams what the life has denied her. Her social life is confined to her school only. So she craves to see the vast world about which she is totally unaware. She dreams of meeting persons like Danny Casey, a talented Irish sportsman. But nobody believes her when she says that she met him. She imagines meeting Danny when she waits in the park. But he did not turn up. Thus we can say that Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.

Question - 16 : -
It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams ? What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasying ?

Answer - 16 : -

For discussion in pairs in class. However a specimen answer is given below :

Most of the teenagers indulge in dreams or day-dreams. Some indulge in fantasying also. It is because they find realities of life quite tough and bitter. So what they cannot get in their real lives, they want to achieve it in their dreams. Some teenagers dream of having good jobs, some dream of being good human beings, some dream of being good leaders or good managers. If they work hard to achieve their aims in life, then these can be called realistic dreams.

But some teenagers may have unrealistic dreams, which are normally difficult to fulfil under the circumstances they five in. Though it is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams, but I think they should avoid these and not waste their precious time. This is the turning point in their lives when they can make or mar their lives. They should work hard, without wasting their time, to achieve what they want to achieve. Unrealistic dreams or fantasying about fanciful life without working hard will lead the teenager nowhere in life.

Question - 17 : -
Look for other stories or movies where this theme of hero worship and fantasisying about film or sports icons finds a place.

Answer - 17 : -

You may look for stories or movies where this theme of hero worship and fantasisying about film or sports icons finds a place. You may mention the story of the film “Guddi’, where the girl called Guddi was fascinated with the hero Dharmendra. The role of Guddi was played by Jaya Bachchan. Then Guddi’s grandfather requested Dharmendra to influence Guddi in such a manner that her teenage infatuation was no more there. Dharmendra made Guddi realise about the realities of the film world after inviting her to the film sets. Ultimately Guddi starts realising and becomes normal.

Question - 18 : - Why did Sophie long for her brother’s affection?

Answer - 18 : -

Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person?

Answer

Sophie found in her brother, Geoff a patient listener to all her fantasies and also one she could confide in. The other members of her family and even her friend Jansie made fun of her fantastic stories. This made her quite fond of Geoff.

Question - 19 : -
Why is Sophie attracted to Danny Casey?

Answer - 19 : -

Danny Casey is a young,tall and handsome football player who is successful. Romantic young girls of Sophie’s age indulge in day-dreaming about things beyond their reach or means. Naturally, she was attracted to him

Question - 20 : -
How are Jansie and Sophie different from each Other?

Answer - 20 : -

Jansie’s feet are grounded in reality while Sophie is a day dreamer. Jansie is very practical in thinking that people of their stature can only become workers in a biscuit factory, whereas Sophie dreams that she will become a successful actress, a fashion designer, a store manager or even an owner of a boutique.

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