THE CURSE lesson learnt

Based on the novel that you have read, what is the lesson that you have learned from the ending of the novel? Give reasons why you think the lesson is important.

sample (1)

    The novel I have read is The curse by Lee Su Ann. In the novel, it ended with Azreen learning the truth about a lot of things surrounding her sister’s death. It was very sad for Azreen too because she had to cope with the deaths of the Old Lady and her parents. In the epilogue, Azreen went back to London to continue her studies. It is important to not that in the end, Azreen learned to forgive. The theme of forgiveness and the importance of the truth resonate throughout the ending of the novel.

    I learned that forgiveness is the key to finding inner peace and strength. Somehow, it helps a person to move on despite having gone through negative situations. Azreen’s character teaches us to be strong, bold and upright in order to withstand vicious gossips and to fight injustice like how she defended the Old Lady.

    The same goes for Azreen when she returned to London. If she allowed hatred, anger and other negative emotions to take over, those emotions would have consumed her and made her life worse. But because she learned to accept the truth and to forgive, she was able to smile at the end. Although the truth was difficult to handle for Azreen, especially about Madhuri and Mohd Asraf, her father being Madhuri’s murderer, and how Madhuri was not her real sister, Azreen managed to cope with all those unfortunate events.

    From the ending of the novel, I learned that sometimes, although the truth may not be what everybody wants to hear, it is always best to tell the truth because it helps people to find inner peace and to be truly happy.

sample (2)

    The Curse by Lee Su Ann has many lessons for its readers. One of the lessons, truth will be known and secrets will not last forever. There are a few characters who keep secrets and eventually the secrets are exposed.

    First, Mohd. Asraf and Madhuri. They were secret lovers. They planned secretly to run away to Kuala Lumpur. After Madhuri died followed by his grandmother’s death, he almost lost his mind. Keeping his secret love was very difficult. He was easily influenced by Puan Normala that his grandmother was poisoned by Old Lady. That was the reason he burned the Old Lady’s house causing her death. Finally, he realises his mistakes and comes to his senses.

Second, En Saleh Abdullah, Azreen’s father. He was always proud of Madhuri. Madhuri made him proud when she agreed to marry the village headman, Haji Ghani. When her affair was discovered, Encik Saleh gets very angry and accidentally killed Madhuri. He never tells anyone and until Azreen confronts him. Actually, he is ashamed because the daughter he was really proud of, had an affair and tried to run away. He keeps seeing a ghost. He suffers a heart attack and dies.

    In conclusion, dark secrets only make life difficult. The evidence in the story has shown us that. Any dark secrets we have, may destroy our lives. We may lose the people we love. Always be true to ourselves and do not take advantage of others. Always think before we act.

sample (3)

    The Curse’ is the novel written by Lee Su Ann which has many lessons that can be used in our lives. Today, I am going to write on one lesson which really captured my attention in the novel that is ‘courage’.

    The value of ‘courage’ can be seen clearly in Azreen’s character. Azreen was a good friend with the Old Lady who became a precious confidante and counsellor despite ignoring the warnings and prejudices of the villagers. Azreen was determined to friends with   the Old Lady till the last minute of the Old Lady’s life.As a child, she was not allowed to visit the Old Lady by her parents. Even the villagers warned Azreen  that the Old Lady is a witch. This shows that Azreen is very courageous for accepting the Old Lady for what she is. From this, I learnt to be courageous in order to speak and act according to what I think is right. I also learnt not to judge others by listening to rumors and to think practically.

    Azreen also showed courage when she took the blame for the bull’s escape in order to save Mohd Asraf. At first, she wanted to help Asraf out from the wicked farm owner, Mr. Mohan and his sons who were accusing Asraf for letting the bull out. But to her dismay, she had to accept the faith of her mother loosing a leg when her father hit into the bull and met with an accident.  Even though Azreen was only helping Asraf at first, but she took the blame and had to carry  it for the rest of her life. I saw Azreen as a very courageous person in this situation and agree to what she had done. She taught me to stand up for my believes  in my life and this will really help me a lot in the future.

    Last but not least, I also find Azreen as a courageous person when she challenged her father to reveal  the truth behind Madhuri’s death. Azreen was very sure that Madhuri was killed by her father because she found the stain of the rubber  tree sap on the ‘parang’. When she put all the details  together, she came to a conclusion and told her father straight that he was the one who killed Madhuri. Here, we can see that Azreen was too bold and had the courage to speak the truth even to her father when she was sure that her sister was killed. This scene opened my mind that I should be honest and bold to say what I think is right in my life.

sample (4)

    One important lesson that I have learnt from the novel The Curse  is that we should not listen to gossip or spread rumours. It is a great injustice for those who have to defend themselves for something that might not be true.

    When Azreen returns home to grieve the death of  Madhuri, she has to listen to vicious rumours spread by Puan Normala. Puan Normala is the village most prolific gossip monger. She believes the village is cursed because innocent MAdhuri was murdered. Her body was covered with 'white blood' when found at the rubber estate. Moreover, Puan Normala claims that there were strange noises coming from the woods. At the same time, she also says that the wild animal were restless. According to her, these are all signs of more evil to come. It is very hurtful to listen to especially to Azreen who has just lost her only sister.

    Azreen fights to seek the truth. She confronts Mohd Asraf and learns that he and Madhuri had an affair. They were secret lovers. Both of them planned to elope. It is not something Azreen wants to hear because her sister, Madhuri, was a married woman. Azreen confronts her sullen father. Awang the bomoh had told Azreen earlier that Madhuri was not her blood sister. Awang also had told Azreen about Madhuri's biological mother. Confronted by Azreen and his own guilt, Encik Saleh admits that he had killed Madhuri. He was in rage he saw her with another man. When he attacked Madhuri, she fell and her head hit a cup of latex. The latex stained her dress, giving rise to the 'white blood' rumour. This also indicates to the villagers that Madhuri was a scarlet woman.

    The prejudiced villagers also outcast the wise Old Lady. She is Azreen's true friend and someone that Azreen confides in. They spread rumours that she was a witch who had murdered her husband. However, Azreen still befriends Old Lady because she knows the truth. The Old Lady had killed her husband in self-defence. When her husband was alive, he was very abusive to the Old Lady. Her husband was cruel to her. If she did not defend herself, she would have died. Something got to give. The vicious rumours make the Old Lady live in isolation. Her wisdom and knowledge are seen as threat. Even when she showed an act of kindness by treating Mohd Asraf's grandmother, she was not accepted by the villagers. She was accused of having ulterior motives. That is why when the grandmother died, Mohd Asraf burned her house with her in it. Mohd Asraf was consumed with grief and the need to seek revenge. He really believed the rumour that the Old Lady was a witch. The fire resulted in the death of the Old Lady.

    Both these incidents demonstrate that rumours can be damaging. We must seek the truth rationally and intelligently. We must investigate like what Azreen has done. At the end, truth will ultimately prevail.

sample (5)
    The Curse by Lee Su Ann has many lessons for its readers. One of the lessons, truth will be known and secrets will not last forever. There are a few characters who keep secrets and eventually the secrets are exposed.
    First, Mohd. Asraf and Madhuri. They were secret lovers. They planned secretly to run away to Kuala Lumpur. After Madhuri died followed by his grandmother’s death, he almost lost his mind. Keeping his secret love was very difficult. He was easily influenced by Puan Normala that his grandmother was poisoned by Old Lady. That was the reason he burned the Old Lady’s house causing her death. Finally, he realises his mistakes and comes to his senses.
    Second, En Saleh Abdullah, Azreen’s father. He was always proud of Madhuri. Madhuri made him proud when she agreed to marry the village headman, Haji Ghani. When her affair was discovered, Encik Saleh gets very angry and accidentally killed Madhuri. He never tells anyone and until Azreen confronts him. Actually, he is ashamed because the daughter he was really proud of, had an affair and tried to run away. He keeps seeing a ghost. He suffers a heart attack and dies.

    In conclusion, dark secrets only make life difficult. The evidence in the story has shown us that. Any dark secrets we have, may destroy our lives. We may lose the people we love. Always be true to ourselves and do not take advantage of others. Always think before we act.