"Meeting Maung-Maung" Response

The theme of "Meeting Maung-Maung" by Pico Iyer seems to be that of pursuing your dream. The author reveals that Maung-Maung comes from a destitute home and doesn't even own the trishaw that he pedals around. Even after being slightly disowned by his parents, he recently pursues his dream of furthering his education and doesn't wallow in self-pity. All the while, he holds fast to his moral principles and resolves to be a help to others. One might even conclude that it is because Maung Maung is so poor that he appreciates what little he has. "I know that it is expensive, but I want to express my gratitude to my parents. They are my lovers" ( 24). One thing that the author did well was keeping the readers' focus on Maung-Maung even from the perspective of the tourist. The simple solution perhaps would have been to write in a first person narrative from Maung-Maung's point of view, but it would have taken away from the valuable dialogue and interactions. Second and lastly, the author masterfully developed Maung-Maung's character. It is remarkable to picture the inarticulate character to pour his soul into a narrative through spending countless hours in the dictionary that he cherishes so much. "Made quiet by this labour of love, I looked up. 'This must have taken you a long time to write. Yes,' he replied with a bashful smile. 'I have to look many times at dictionary. But it is my pleasure to help tourists'"(23).

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