Heartland is a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy’s search for identity. Do you agree?

1. Key words & ideas

1.1. realistic portrayal

1.1.1. definition

1.1.1.1. realistic: given to the representation of things as they really are.

1.1.1.2. portrayal: depicting or representing

1.2. search for identity

1.2.1. A phase that all teenagers go through. It is hard and confusing as he/she is lost and does not know who he/she is

1.3. Singaporean

1.3.1. This targets Singaporeans alone... Gives Singaporeans reading it a sense of belonging and identity.

2. point: Not everyone may go through what Wing is going through. This is due to the fact that each person's reaction to the same situation are subjected to the person's character.

2.1. example: Not everybody in Singapore might have had a girlfriend at Wing's age. Wing's reaction to his failed relationship was very negative due to his introverted character.

3. analysis: Since not everyone might have had a girlfriend at their age, or had to be drafted, thus not everyone might have been able to go through what Wing was going through at that point of time, therefore, it is not an exact realistic potral of a Singaporean's boy search for identity. Wing's negative reaction towards his failed relationship was because of his quiet and introverted nature. Instead of moving on, he chose to look back and analyze what went wrong in the relationship. By doing that, he went into a state of guilt. This reaction is not a general reaction as it is very subjected to the individual's behaviour and character. Another boy would handle a similar situation with maybe a positive reaction subjecting to the boy's character.

4. No, it is not realistic

5. link: Not everyone is able to relate whatever Wing and his friends has gone through, therefore, it cannot be said that it is a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy's search for identity. as they might not have experienced it before. As an individual's reaction and thoughts to a particular situation is subjected to the individual's behaviour and character, therefore, Heartland cannot be said to be a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy's search for identity.

6. Yes, it is realistic

6.1. Point: It portrays what troubles a teenager faces such as discovering identity and relationship problems like love, friendships and typical NS.

6.2. Example: Wing not knowing who his father is. Wing feeling lost in a big world--NS. Wing's relationships going haywire ( wing and audrey drifting)

6.3. Analysis: From this I believe it is realistic as it lets the reader think and reflect on his own relationships when he/she reads about issues like Wing and Audrey's drifting apart as it is a familiar ground that the reader can identify with. Also, Wing's dilemna of failed relationships give the readers opportunity to think on his/her own relationships. Moreover, Wing feeling small when years go by so quickly, is what everyone feels as they want to belong. Wing's unknown father also stirs up more realistic images as broken families are becoming more prominent in the world and such things are real.

6.4. Link: Therefore it is realistic as it portrays essence of typical life issues and lets the reader easily identify with it.