Point of No Return by Pesi Fonua
Is it a return to Tonga or a
return to a land overseas?
The impossible return of the Tongan
people to Tonga from overseas or overseas from Tonga has the same reason. The
text suggests that Tongans long for work opportunity, proper education, and
freedom of owning land.
The Tonga monarchy and nobles
probably kept land on a tenure system and ensured that those in charge have
control over land use and access.
Tongans probably depend on
natural resources such as farming or fishing but some of them do not have the
right to own or occupy lands, especially the women. As the mother said in the
short story, “…at least we had food from the allotment garden.. but now the
estate owner has taken the tax allotment…” (p.363). This suggests that women do
not have land rights. This gives rise to the problem of feminism in Tonga.
Women should have the same opportunity as the men concerning the ownership of
land. The problem arises in the characters life because his mother is dependent
on her husband and the Tongan system favours the men.
As a result, they have lack of money,
which made the boy in the story a beggar and the possibility that the mother
along with her daughter became sex workers. Moreover, the government framework where
the nobles have power over people’s lands, which could also be the cause. There
is also that notion that the people, who have total control over the land in
Tonga, may have their own preferences as to who is allowed to have the land and
equal share is impossible. Sometimes people with a high status in security or authority
tend to hinder others below themselves so those people will not surpass them.
It is also known that Tonga’s main
source of revenue is remittance from Tongans working in a developed country. The
characters in the short story want to migrate to the United States, Australia,
or New Zealand. This may be due to work opportunities, education, or the lack
of adequate resources due to land ownership.
Fonua probably wants to convey a message through
his works that he wants good change in Tonga, a change that will benefit his
people.
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