Leaving - When Mother first objects his decision to study in
America, Aloo does not pursue the matter further and
Moral Values seems resigned to study agriculture at the local
university.
We must not let opportunities pass us by - Out of respect, he does not rebel against his mother’s
decision and only speaks of the matter again after she
- In the story, Aloo studies very hard and does well in his asks him about it.
exams. He also applies to many universities in America
in the hope to further his studies there. - Both the narrator and Aloo’s respect for Mr. Velji is
apparent when they stand up as he enters the room.
- His hard work is not in vain as he receives an offer to
study at the prestigious California Institute of
Technology on scholarship. We must be determined
- He tries his best to convince his mother to let him go - Aloo dreams of going to study medicine in America. He
because he knows that this is an opportunity that he does not know how to make his dream come true.
must not pass up.
- He takes initiative to look up the addresses of American
universities in books and write to the universities to
We must be grateful to our parents seek a scholarship.
- In the story, the narrator has a new awareness of the - His determination pays off when one of the top
hardships that Mother must have gone through as a universities offers him a scholarship.
single mother and how must have changed her as a - When he realizes that he needs more money, he is
person. determined to work to finance his studies.
- This teaches us to think about the sacrifies our parents
have made for us too.
Leaving
Themes
We must respect our elderly
Separation
- In the story, Mother experiences the pain and sadness - He has a hunger to learn more than what his little town
of separation as her children grow up and leave the has to offer and seems to soak up all the new things he
family home. sees and experiences in London.
- Although she is sad whenever one of her children
leaves home, she is particularly upset when Aloo
expresses his intentions to study in America.
- He is the son she is most attached to and now he is the
furthest away from her. She worries that he will never
return home.
Sacrifice / Selflessness
- Mother has to make many sacrifices while bringing up
her children without a husband.
- She always puts her children first and refuses to
remarry if it means parting with her children.
- When Aloo wants to study in America, she refuses at
first. Thus, even knowing that she might never see him
again, she lets him go to achieve his dream.
Ambition
- Aloo is a very ambitious boy who wants a better life for
himself. Instead of being content with the offer to study
at a local university, he seeks a better opportunity and
is ecstatic to receive the scholarship to study in
America.
