T h e C o ffi n I s To o B i g

Fo r T h e H o l e
By Kuo Pan Kun
(Themes)
P R E PA R E D B Y,
B U V A N E C T V A RY A / P M A R I
G AV I T H A A / P K R I S H N A N
V I K N E S WA R A N A / L A DA I K A N
 Parallelism in the Country
• Singapore government has set the equal rules for citizen of
the country even for the funeral burial.
• They standardized the size of the coffin and allotted one plot
for all disregard of the economical status of citizen.
• Initially, the officer in-charge refuses to extend the standard
plot size as it is contrary to state regulation.
• Even, the funeral parlour man refused to the protagonist’s
request for giving another plot and making the hole bigger.
Textual Evidences
“You see, sir, the regulation says one dead is allotted one plot.”
(p. 37, para 3)

“You look at all these other graves in the cemetery. See? All same
size. No two graves for one person. Everyone standard size!..” (p.
37, para 5)

‘…Irrespective of the person’s status and condition, everyone is

treated in exactly the same manner….’ (pp 39-40, para 5)
Going Against The Law
•No uniformity in following national planning rules.
• The author was not compromising even a little to the suggestions
given by the officer-in charge
The five officially shared values of Singaporeans are:
NATION before community and society above self.
FAMILY as the basic unit of society.
COMMUNITY support and respect for the individual.
CONSENSUS, not conflict.
HARMONY among races and religions.
Textual Evidences
 Empty Fame Brings No Value

• There have to be a right reason to be famous instead having a

bigger coffin than the others like the coffin of protagonist’s
grandfather.
• The family are proud of his grandfather’s charismatic coffin.
• The protagonist is now worried that his future generations
will not find and recognise his grave with the same size with
others.
Textual Evidences
‘But we were feeling proud too. I did anyway. I mean, how many
people had a grandfather who enjoyed the honour of getting buried in
such a rare, refined, solid, polished, grand and heavy coffin?
(p. 33, para 5)

‘Now, with them all in the same size and the same shape, would my
sons and daughters, and my grandsons and grand-daughters after
them, be able to find me out and recognise me?’
‘I don’t know… I just don’t know…’
(p. 46, para 5)
 Attainment Of Triumph Through
Willpower
• The protagonist is well-portrayed as determined person
in adding another plot for his grandfather’s coffin.
• His responsibility as a filial grandson is fulfilled through his
abrupt actions and demands.
• He gets the special exception for his grandfather’s burial
after the resistance over the officer in-charge (authority).
Textual Evidences
“You see, I was the head of the family. How can I cry? I have to do
something!” (p. 35, para 5)

“But somehow, at this moment of crisis, the sight of grandfather’s big coffin
became a source of strength and inspiration. As I looked at it, I felt as if the
coffin was speaking to me, persuading me not to give up. Not to give up this
big, grand old thing. Immediately, my mind was made up, and I resumed my
confident self again.” (p. 38, para 6)

‘‘There will only be this one exception and no such requests will be
entertained ever again.’ (p. 45, para 1)
Cynicism In Society
• Throughout the play, the protagonist, officer in-charge and the
undertaker are portrayed cynical at certain points for some
reasons.
• The protagonist – feared to face embarrassment (selfish)
• Officer in-charge – Cynical to a certain extent (abide the rules)
• Funeral parlour man (undertaker) – cynical as promoting the
coffin during burial time
• These 3 characters are being self-centred.
Textual Evidences
“Can you imagine the embarrassment? The whole of our extended
family stranded at the cemetary with grandfather’s coffin…”
(p. 38, para 1)

“I know, sir, […] Change into a smaller coffin. We have a wide range of
coffins. We have very big ones too, although not so big as this one, but
which could fit the standard holes. We even have teak-wood ones. Very
lasting…’ (p. 37, para 6)
‘One, change to a smaller coffin.’
‘Two, change to a private cemetary.’
‘Three, chop off the extra wood on the sides of the coffin.’
‘Four, simply remove the body and bury it wrapped in bamboo sheets.
Umm…Come to think of it, this fourth option has an added advantage.
You could donate this unique coffin to our newly renovated National
Museum of History for perpetual admiration by our own people and the
tourists from all over the world.’ (p. 41, para 2-3)
Kindness Deserves To Be Appreciated
• Meaningful fame is purposeful, has integrity, and brings more
value and goodwill to the world.
• The officer- in charge deserves to be voted for the Most
Humane Personality of the Year.
• The officer-in-charge’s agreement on giving an extra plot for
the coffin portrayed him as kind, humane and understanding
person.
• His act in that situation also shows that he didn’t abide the
rules fully by considering the situation of others.
Textual Evidences
‘All right. Since you are already at the cemetary, and since the coffin has proven
itself too big for the hole, we’ll make this case a very special exception…”
(p. 44, para 6)

‘The will be only this one exception and no such requests will be entertained over
again. One man, one grave, one plot!...’ (p. 45, para 1)

‘…he was awarded a prize in recognition of the exceptional sympathy and

understanding he had shown towards my grandfather’s big coffin: he has voted
the Most Humane Personality of the Year!’ (p. 45, para 6)
THANK YOU