Synopsis

Leaving is set in Tanzania. It is a story of a woman who raises her five children alone after the
early death of her husband. After her two elder daughters get married and the eldest son acquires
a job, the mother focuses on the two younger ones, Aloo and the youngest (the narrator). Aloo is in
his final year in school and the girl is in university. She pins all her hopes on them that they will
have a better education. She sells their store and moves them to Upanga. The place is quieter and
provides a better environment for them to study. The return of Mr Datoo, a former teacher
inspires Aloo to think of furthering his education in America. He wants study medicine. He starts
writing to American universities to get the necessary information .He is not keen on studying
agriculture in a local university. He is offered a place with a scholarship in the California Institute of
Technology. However, his mother would not allow him to accept the offer, citing finances and fear
of losing him as the reasons. Finally, on the advice of a school officer,the mother relents and
accepts the idea of allowing Aloo to leave home for a different sky. The narrator, for the first time,
sees her mother as a person and not just as her mother-someone who has always thought only of
the children's welfare. Aloo's first letter was a graphic enthusiastic account of London but to the
mother, she is uncertain of his return.

Plot
1.Exposition: Mother and her two children move to Upanga
2.Rising action: Aloo writes to universities in America
3. Climax: Aloo is offered a scholarship to study in America and discusses the offer with his mother
4. Falling action: The family goes to see Me Velji and mother allows Aloo to go to America
5. Resolution: Aloo leaves for America

Character and characteristics

Main characters:

1. Aloo

 youngest child in the family-doing his final year in school.

 a good student who does well in school examinations, straight As.
 is inspired by a former teacher who returns from America for a visit to think of
furthering his education overseas in America.
 not keen on studying agriculture at a local university
 diligent-writes to universities to get necessary information for further studies
 ambitious-wants to study medicine
 extremely happy when offered a scholarship to study in California Institute of
Technology
 spirited and courageous-willing to do part-time work while studying
 tries to convince other that he will definitely return to his homeland after his studies
 obedient-willing to accept mother's decision-does not speak about overseas
education and prepares to study agriculture locally
 could not suppress his excitement when mother finally allows him to go overseas
 writes from London to mother-letter so full of excitement creates doubts in mother's
mind about the future.

2. Mother

 mother of the five children and runs a store in Uhuru Street-single-handedly raises five
children after early death of husband
 Aloo's mother became a widow at thirty-three and had refused ever since to marry for
fear that the next husband would ask her to take her children to the 'boarding'
 thinks of the children's future-willing to sacrifice for them -closes down the store and
moves family to a quieter part of town-better environment for studying-a big change for
her
 ambitious about her children's education-wants them to do well
 afraid to let youngest son go for overseas education-afraid he might not return
home,take a European wife or forget his roots
 at the same time wise or understanding about situation-children have to grow up and
leave home one day-but hopes to hold on to them as long as possible
 loving and caring-take steps to ensure youngest son leave for further studies with a
happy frame of mind
 after receiving letter from Aloo who writes letter from London-feels unsure that Aloo will
return to hometown in Tanzania

Minor characters
1. Aloo's sibling (narrator)

 second youngest in family and studying in a local university

 supportive of and understands Aloo's needs to study overseas and not in local university
 loving and caring of mother and understands mother's refusal to allow Aloo to study
overseas
 observant-observes mother's face and sees her as a person and not just as their mother-
recalls mother's worried unsmiling face looking after them in her own
2. Mr Datoo

 a former teacher in Aloo's school-came back from America for a visit

 it was his visit that inspired Aloo to think about his future-of studying overseas in
America

3. Mr Velji

 a school officer who gives an objective comment about Aloo's studies overseas
 knows that Aloo will get a good education but fears mother may lose a son
 has an understanding look when he reads the content of Aloo's letter from London

Themes
1. Mother's love
2. Separation from loved ones
3. Seizing opprtunities
4. Sacrifice/Selflessness
5. The importance of education
6. Fear of the unfamiliar
7. courage and strength to stand up to one's principles
8. determination brings success
9. parental sacrifice for family members
10. .letting go of family members to let them become independent
11. willingness to gain new experience and exposure

Moral Values
1. Hard work and patience will be rewarded
2. Good education is very important
3. we must not let opportunities pass us by.
4. We must be grateful to our parents.
5. We must try not to be judgmental about the things we do not understand