The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole

by Kuo Pao Kun

Summary

• The filial grandson demands from the officer-in-charge of the burial sites for a larger hole because his grandfather’s coffin is too big for the hole.

• But, the officer-in-charge is too rigid to follow the policy. • At last, the grandfather get an exception to be buried in

two plot. But, because the coffin is too big, the decease slept east-west and not north-south.

• Thus, this play’s intention is to mock the Singapore society rigidity by exaggerating the situation in order to show how ridiculous the society are.

Theme

• Reluctance to adapt changes– Singapore’s limited space makes the state rigidly

restricts its allocation of spaces for the individual so that the can be maximizing for the national development.

Characters

– Grandson • Filial grandson• Responsible for his family• Firm - insists on being given an extra plot for his

grandfather’s grave. (page 38)

– Grandfather • Traditional like the olden days - expecting a huge and

grand funeral like the olden days. (page 33)• Rich old man• Well prepared – prepare his coffin early before he died.

– The undertaker presents the society that always follow the rules and does not have sense of humanity to solve problem. (page 37)

– Bureaucrat (Officer-in-charge) • Negotiable and firm. He give an exception for the

grandson to buried the coffin in two plot.• Creative – give suggestion for the grandson to delay the

funeral until the next day so that his father can be buried next to a baby’s coffin.

Setting

• His grandfather’s house– Too big – Show that the protagonist and his family from a

wealthy background.– His father is rich, he wants a grand coffin for his

funeral.• Important, shows the wealth of the family

• Cemetery– The real conflict happen which is the coffin is too

big for the hole.– The parlour director keeps saying “You see sir.....”– The undertaker cannot make the plot wider

because he has work according to a standard size. (page 36)

– Officer-in-charge is uncompromising:• He reluctant to widen to plot because he is following the rule which is one plot allocated to one person.

• Singapore– Show how strict rules produce a society that

follows the order.– Densely populated nation with a small space.– This play shows how ridiculous the rule are.

Social setting

• Small population country– Unwilling to adapt changes.– They follow the culture to buried the decease.– They should consider cremation to reduce the

using of spaces in their small country.– But, they refused to do so.

Time : 1970s

• Singapore wanted to build their own identity– Produce a good image and identity by using the

law to make it possible.– Negative effect : They are not flexible and too rigid

to accept changes.