Test: Going Places- 2 - Commerce MCQ

Barton is a modern writer, who lives in Zurich and writes in English. His stories are based on problems concerning adolescents. In 'Going Places', Barton explores the subject of adolescent fantasising and hero worship. The whole story is about unrealistic dreams that have little possibility of coming true.

The story ‘Going Places’ is a journey into the dream world of the protagonist, a schoolgirl named Sophie who drifts from one dream to another. The world of dreams is so fascinating for her that even her wildest thoughts can find refuge it. Sophie finds the reality of her life too harsh to accept. She belongs to a lower middle class family where nobody encourages her to dream of better prospects. Still she dreams of owning the best boutique, becoming a manager in some store or at other times becoming an actress or a fashion designer. In her dream world, she visits the Royce’s, meets Danny Casey, the sports icon, and even fixes up a date with him. It’s all in her mind but she considers it true and actually waits for him to show up at a specified spot and time. The flight of her imagination is such that it flips from one dream to another, from one place to the other.

Sophie has been portrayed as the central character in the story ‘Going Places’. She perfectly represents the girls of her age who live in poor families. Sophie always lives in a dream world, dreaming impossible things. The opening scene of the story clearly tells what sort of girl she is. She is not ready to accept the reality of her family’s condition and dreams of having a boutique of her own.

She makes up the story of meeting Danny Casey, a charming and upcoming footballer. Nobody believes her but she refuses to accept that it is her dream. Rather, she starts believing that she has met him and to prove that she is telling the truth, she makes up another story that she has fixed a date with him. She is so lost in her dreams that she actually goes to the canal and waits for him. He does not show up. She knows that he will not come, but still she becomes sad. Such is the character of Sophie.

Sophie dreams to have a boutique of her own. .She says that she will buy a boutique if ever she comes into money. She does not mind becoming an actress to run a boutique as a side business. Since she has no money or experience, it is called a 'dream' and not a 'plan'.

Jansie and Sophie are classmates and friends, their approach to life is completely different from each other. While Jansie is practical and grounded to reality, Sophie lives in a make-believe world of her own, which she ‘invents’ in her imagination.

Jansie was a realistic and practical girl who knew both she and Sophie were earmarked for the biscuit factory. So she discouraged Sophie from living in a world of fantasy. Whenever Sophie expressed her wishes aloud Jansie became melancholic and told Sophie to behave sensibly.

Sophie wanted to open a boutique. Alternatively, she would become an actress and have the boutique as a side business. She also thought of being a fashion designer. Jansie had her feet firmly planted to the ground.

Geoff is Sophie's elder brother. A junior mechanic who is self-involved and does not mingle with this family. Sophie wants to know his secrets and wants to meet his friends. Sophie does not like his silence and is fascinated by his life

The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when the family went to watch United on Saturday. Sophie, her father and little Derek went down near the goal. Geoff went with his mates higher up. United won two-nil. Her idol Casey drove in the second goal. She saw the Irish genius going round two big defenders on the edge of penalty area. He beat the hesitant goal keeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride. She was very happy.

Derek is Sophie's younger brother.

Sophie had cooked up the story of her meeting with Danny Casey to impress Geoff who was a great fan of the football prodigy. So when Geoff told Jansie, Sophie cursed him because she knew Jansie would spread her story in the entire neighbourhood.

Advantages: Fantasizing, based on realistic goals or the world around, provides a means to reach higher ambitions and dreams. Aspiring for higher career goals and working hard may ensure successful career prospects. Thus, it instills confidence and a spirit to achieve one's desire. In difficult situations of life, it helps instill positively and optimism. It is a talent in those known as creative.

Disadvantages: Fantasizing builds a gap between fantasy and reality. The realization of the disparity between one's goals and capabilities may be painful. Non achievement may also lead to disappointment, depression or suicidal tendencies. Moreover, it is a sheer wastage of time for many.

Geoff never spoke much. Sophie always pondered over the areas of his life which he never talked about. His world remained a fascination for her. She felt that when he was not speaking, his mind was away at some unknown place, and so she felt jealous of him.

Danny Casey is an Irish football prodigy and Sophie is attracted to him because like most youngsters she idolizes and hero-worships him. So she envisions her meetings with the football star and also gives vivid details of their meetings.

No, Sophie did not really meet Danny Casey. She was very fascinated by the young Irish footballer. She imagined his coming. She was always lost in a dreamy world where she imagined Casey meeting her.

Sophie considers the spot along the canal the best place for a date, as it is away from the rush of the city. As she sits by the canal she is lost in the world of her dreams. She imagines Casey coming along the river and her own excitement thereafter