The question that Ama asks to her brother shows that for her, religion is everything and is more important than anything else. She is curious if her brother
still has his belief in God. It is the priority rather than other things. Even his brother’s life does not matter for her. She does not ask his family in China or
other things that should be logically asked when we meet someone for the first time after long time never seen each other.
3. Dominant
Not only a Christian martinet, Ama is also a martriarch. It means that she is not only a good and obedient Christian but also a leader in the family,
especially in the religious aspect. Her character in this play is described as a dominant woman. Dominant here relates to the term authority. Ama is a dominant
woman who has an authority to control over her family. Her dominant character is seen almost in every part of her converstaions. One of example that proves her
dominant character is when she commands others member of family to see and meet Digou no matter what they bussiness are. In page 198, act 1, Chester said
that he cannot stay because he has to finish packing before he leaves tommorow. Nevertheless, Ama tells him that he must stay in order to see Di-Gou. She does
not care about her grandson’s businness. She just wants him to listen to her command.
Ama’s dominant character is also shown when she leads the Family Devotion. In the quoatation below, Ama shows her dominant character by forcing
other family members to give their testimony.
AMA: Now-Special Terstimony. Let us tell of God’s blessingWho will have privilege? Special Testimony Who will be first to praise?
[Silence] He is in our presence Opem His arms to us [Silence] He is not going to wait forever-you know this He is very busy
[ROBERT stands up, starts to head for podium. POPO notices that ROBERTS has risen, points to him.]
POPO: No Not him AMA: [
To ROBERT
] He is very bored with certain people who say same thing over and over again. Act 2, p. 215.
When no one wants to give their testimony, she insists them to do it but when Robert wants to give his testimony, she and Popo do not want to hear it. She
does not allow them to speak their own words. She wants other family member to obey her words. Eventually, she commands Jenny to give her testimony. Although
Jenny does not want to do it, she insists her to come and speak her words. This shows how Ama dominates the family, even in their right to speak.
B. The Characterization of Popo
Popo’s characteristic is quite similar with Ama. She is as stubborn and fanatic as her sister but she is a little wiser than Ama. Popo rarely accepts’s other
suggestion and criticism and she does not care of what people say. She dislikes Japanese people and reveals it in her attitude toward her son in law, Robert. She
accuses him for losing Digou in airport although he has tried to explain that it is not his fault and that the airport is very big and imposible to find someone that he
has never met before. Nevertheless, she still blames him and suspects him about how he does not give a care to other people from other city besides his place,
Shangai. It can be seen from the dialogue below.
POPO: [
To ROBERT
] See? You do not care about people from other province besides Shanghai.
ROBERT: [
To POPO
] Mom, I care. It’s just that- POPO: [
To ROBERT
] Your father trade with Japanese during war. WILBUR: Huh?
ROBERT: Mom, let’s not start that- POPO: Not like our family. We die first
WILBUR: What’s all this about? ROBERT: Hey, let’s not bring up all this other junk, right?
POPO: [
To ROBERT
] You are ashamed. Act 1, p. 201. Not only on that conversation Popo has shown her characteristic. There are
lots of sentences that can prove her similarity with Ama, especially in the way she asks Digou about his Christianity.
POPO: You are being difficult. AMA: You remember when you first become Christian?
POPO: You traveled with See-goh-poh on her first evangelism tour?
Before we move to Philippines and you stay in China? Remember? You speak in tounges of fire. Act 1, p. 205
She stands on her foot in the same way her sister does because they both are sure that they are always right, especially in the religion matter they would
become fanatic. Popo does not realize that both she and her sister are wrong. When Jenny tells the whole family about her testimonial, Popo and Ama
think that she really means it. Even it is clear that Jenny is only pretending to be serious in her words but Ama and Popo believe it. Jenny implies insinuation to her
grand mothers with her words, but they do not want to accept it. They only want to believe that their grand daughter says her feeling toward God. They are happy
because they think Jenny really put her trust in God. JENNY: [At podium, she begins testimony.] First, I want to say that I love
you all very much. I really do. POPO: [
To DI-GOU
] That meaning is, she love God. JENNY: And I appreciate what you’ve done for me.
POPO: [
To DI-GOU
] She loves us because we show her God.
