Shirley Geok-Lin Lim

HANDS by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim

• The major theme of this poem is about tradition, mainly on how a woman supposed to function, especially in terms of behaviour and manner.
• However, it can be seen that throughout the poem, the speaker sounds rather unwilling/ forced and frustrated.
• Perhaps, what Shirley is trying to convey here is for all the women out there to follow their own heart and dreams, instead of being forced to follow what others are asking you to do.
• In a family institution, women serve as the secondary role since they were little until they are married. When they were little they were taught by their parents, especially mother on how to behave like a real woman. Once they are married, they have to obey and to serve their husband.
• These show how a woman's life is being controlled by the society itself, thus, Shirley wrote this poem as to show her frustration regarding this matter.
• Through the Islamic perspective, it is compulsory for a wife to obey and to serve her husband as long as it is not against the Islamic teaching, and it is also a must for a child to obey his or her parents, or else he or she will be punished in the hereafter.