1. The main character is the taxi driver.

He was first portrayed as a hardworking father of 8 children

who worked as a taxi driver for almost 20 years. As the story progresses, I have come to know
that he is also an observant and introspective person. There are details in the story that tells
about the different encounters of the taxi driver and his observations, especially about the
students whom he has driven. I also realized that he is a biased and selfish person, why? He
knows that the teenagers he drove for are being exploited, but what he does do? He still drove
them and didn’t bravely tell the government or any organization that there was exploitation that
was happening. His choice to earn money outweighs his empathy for the children. He is like “
Ah… I’m just going to criticize these children, but I need to earn, I don’t want to interfere with
what they are doing so whatever…”

2. The story occurred inside the taxicab of the protagonist, somewhere in the country of Singapore.

3. First, the taxi man is working hard due to their family’s financial struggle. He wasn’t able to send
his 7 children to university because of financial restraints, that’s why he worked so hard to send
his youngest daughter to a university because he believed that she had the potential. It was also
exposed in the middle part of the story, that he discovered that his youngest daughter is just the
same as the students whom he drove in the coffee house. He saw how delinquent she was,
showing bold behavior which he didn’t expect to happen. This event added to the burden that
he was facing. I also think that he is struggling to maintain a balance between what values he
believes in and the want to earn money. Even though he knows the wrongdoings of the
teenagers he is driving to the coffeehouse, he still does it because he wants to earn money.

4. The taximan was able to share his encounters about the immoral behavior of the students with
his passenger at that time, whom he calls “Madam”, a university teacher.

5. If I were to be the passenger the piece of advice I would tell the taxi driver is that he must not
just stick to one job, that he must find alternative/ additional ways to earn money if he knows
that what he earns isn’t enough to sustain their daily living. Also, being concerned with the
welfare of the children, I would encourage the taxi driver to go to an organization that cares for
the welfare of children to stop the exploitation. I believe that those children still have a bright
future, they just need proper guidance and a feeling of being loved and appreciated. I would
also want to tell him that he should also look after his children carefully, especially the youngest
one, not just those students that he usually sees. Good parenting is still important even though a
parent trusts his or her child. Guidance is still vital because teenagers can easily be lured by the
bad influences their peers could show them. As they say, even those angel-like faces can still
choose the wrong path.

6. The story outlined several social problems that happened in Singapore. First, it shows a rampant
problem of families handling their teenage children like the taximan’s. It also shows a portrayal
of how important it is to have an education especially learning another language, to keep up
 with the foreigners who visit your country. Because English is the universal language, each
person of a different nationality must know it to converse with others effectively. There are parts
in the story where the teacher can’t comprehend what the taxi driver and vice versa is saying.
I’m not degrading the illiteracy of the taximan but then, for him to keep up with the advancing
world, he must learn about it more. Another problem is how teenagers act like they’re already
adults and them being exploited for prostitution. Instead of studying in schools, they engage in
delinquency which is not good for their welfare and future. This problem is not just rampant in
Singapore, but I do believe it poses a threat throughout the world. Teenagers can easily be
deceived because most of them yearn for something their parents couldn’t provide which they
see in other people.

7. The changes that happen in the current generation of Singaporean youth made the taxi driver
disappointed at first because it’s very far from the old generation they had before. Day by day, as
he encounters different kinds of teenagers his perspective of them also changes. He became
more vigilant, and he even shared his criticisms about them with his passengers like the teacher.
His personal life is greatly affected because while he’s criticizing other youngsters, he doesn’t
discover early that one of those youngsters is his daughter, which impairs their relationship with
one another. The one whom he believed who has great potential to enter the university, is also
the one who he will see as a social escort inside a coffee house. Such an event brought a big turn
in his life.

8. The story revolves around showcasing resilience and hope, a social commentary of the realistic
events that occur in Singapore, differentiating the old and current generation of Singapore, the
Rampancy of teenage prostitution and how their generation can easily be exploited, and lastly
the importance of effective parenting.

9. For me, the taxi driver didn’t show genuine concern about the problem at his place. Yes, he is
aware of what’s happening, but the question is, are there any actions that he has already
contributed to solve the problems? There’s none right, even simple ways. He is only eager to
earn money for his own family’s good, he doesn’t truly care about the welfare of the children. If
he is, there are a lot of options that he could do, report to concerned organizations, as an adult
give the youngsters a teaching, etc.

10. The parent and the children are at fault. Some parents don’t possess effective parenting skills
vital for the well-being and growth of their children. There are also lackings that the child may
yearn for which their parent can’t give that’s why they explore the world by themselves to
experience those, and sadly some of them are choosing the wrong path that exploits them to act
on negative behaviors. The youth can also be blamed if the case is their becoming rebellious to
their parents even though their parents are doing their best to mold them to become better
persons. They abuse the kindness their parents are showing and become delinquent.
11. As I’ve said, good and effective parenting is vital in the growth and life choices of the youth. If
their upbringing is good, if they grew up in a house where they feel safe, loved, and appreciated
there will be a high chance that they will choose the right path. But if they grew up in a
household, where parents are fighting, gambling, and doing bad actions, they can be influenced
easily or they can adapt such behaviors which they can bring to their teenage life. But, I’m not
saying that they don’t have a chance to change, there is, as long as they want to.

12. I do believe that Ms. Catherine Lim wrote this story to serve as an eye-opener for the youth and
parents around the world. Her literary work is a piece of gem, that knocks on the eyelid of every
person who reads the Taximan’s Story. Nowadays, teenage exploitation is rampant around the
world not just in Singapore as portrayed in the story. I believe that she is urging the public,
especially the parents to be vigilant about the things their children are doing, to the persons
they’re with, and such. It also seeks to teach and make the youth reflect on what bad influences
can do to their life and relationships with their family.

13. It is ironic for the taxi driver to critique the present generation of Singaporean youth to be
careless, impulsive, immature, and lacking moral values while her daughter is also an escort in
the same place where most of the time he drove his teenage passengers. At the same time, he
criticizes them but still chooses to drive them, for him to earn money.

14. The story of the taximan leaves a lesson to readers like me, about the importance of effective
parenting and choosing the right peers, especially in transition to teenage life. It also shows a
lesson that we must appreciate the sacrifices our parents do just for us to have a brighter future.
We must not be like Ms. Lady Choo who abused the kindness of his father, where she fooled her
father instead. We must also learn to know first the people we are with if they’re going to be
good or bad for us.

1. The story happened on a late evening after supper, inside the residence of Ivan and Masha,
which is probably somewhere in Russia.
2. There are 2 major characters in the story, Ivan, and Masha Dmitritch. Ivan is younger than Masha
as a line in the story states “ his mind dwelt on the fact that his wife had grown elderly and
plain…while he was still young, fresh, and healthy…”. He was portrayed as a typical individual
who has hope and aspires to a better life. His reaction to the unexpected prospect of riches,
specifically on winning the lottery ticket, highlights the complexity of human nature, particularly
how wealth can change a person and bring out both the good and worst in them. On the other
hand, Masha is first portrayed as a quiet and loving wife who has a lot of aspirations in life. She is
covered with skepticism as she wants to know everything first before thinking about doing
something. This is shown in the part where she asks Ivan to check the winning number first and
compare it to their number. When there was a turn of events, both of them became dynamic
characters. Ivan thought a lot of negative things about Masha and her family, while Masha also
 did the same for she knew what her husband was thinking. Both of them became repulsive and
hateful.
3. The couple belongs to a middle-class family who earn an income of $1200 annually. They own a
lot, and it was stated at the beginning of the story that Ivan was well satisfied with his lot. They
are portrayed as an average couple living a modest life. Their aspirations and desires mirror
those individuals who strive for a better life within their means. But things change as the story
progresses.
4. When the couple saw the first 4 numbers the light of hope shone among them. They already
thought about the things where they would be using the wealth they could gain, “the possibility
of winning bewildered them…what they both needed that seventy-five thousand for, what they
would buy, where they would go”-to buy an estate, travel abroad, and all of the luxurious things
they could ever have. They also reached the point where they already have a grudge against one
another. The possibility of not winning was absent from the mind of the couple, their minds
were already full of aspirations and false hopes, without knowing if the last 2 numbers matched
the winning numbers. The story’s atmosphere is suspenseful. The smiles on their faces faded as
the last 2 winning numbers were revealed, 46 instead of theirs, which is “26”. Hatred and hope
both disappeared, and the evening for the couple was wearisome.
5. I do believe that money has the power to change people, it only depends on the person whether
they would let the money change them positively or negatively. It is in the hands of the beholder
whether he or she will let the money control her or remain unchanged. If I were to become a
large lottery winner, I’d always keep in mind to look back on where I have come from. I’ll be
humble, and I will retain the good traits I had before. My status in life would change but the
values and principles I have will remain unchanged. Nowadays, not to generalize, but some
people only glorify their money, they forget how to be human. If a small business owner opens,
a rich business would copy the same product and lower its price to gain the customers of that
small business. See? When they taste what money can do, some people are already out of
touch, their hearts are filled with greed wanting to gain more money. Winning a large sum of
money can be a transformative experience, it depends on how individuals choose to manage
and adapt to their newfound environment whether it leads to positive or negative outcomes.
6. One word to describe Ivan after knowing that he didn’t win, is disappointed. All of their hopes
for a better life through money gains are dashed after knowing that it’s another again to become
unlucky. He also becomes a bit deflated. Chekhov describes his reaction as follows: "...he began
to cross out the numbers on his ticket, uttering his calculations as he did so. Masha was silent,
and her face showed that she was ill at ease. She was feeling both disappointed and ashamed
because she had been greedy; the former feeling outweighed the latter and showed in her eyes,
so Ivan Dmitritch did not feel uncomfortable about it."

7. Being chosen is fulfilling, at the same time being not chosen is somehow hurting. Being chosen
makes you feel that you are validated, you are accepted, it brings happiness of course. On the
other hand, being not chosen, hurts our egos, makes us doubt our capabilities and existence. But
then, I realized that there are instances that being not chosen is a form of God’s redirection for
better things to occur. I just want to share a brief experience of mine not being chosen by my so
called “ bestfriends” when we were HS students. They had been my friends for 4 years already,
but because we chose different academic tracks, we separated ways, and they found friends of
 their own. Well, maturity says to me that that’s okay, because we grow, but then during our
foundation day, as I texted them, to ask them to have lunch together and watch events, they all
declined. I was left alone, wandering in school by myself-as I remembered one classmate of mine
asked me “ Where is your friends, do you have your companion?” I almost burst into tears,
because I really felt alone and left behind that time, while when they need help I’m the one call
away type of friend. Because of what happened I distanced myself from them, and lived my life
without contact with them, I found true friends now in college, who’s with me for better or
worse. We can’t force anyone to choose us, whether in relationships, work, societies, contests,
lottery, etc. Not everyone will choose you, because that is not how life works and we must learn
to accept such truth.
8. Less expectations, less disappointment, that’s what I learned from the story. Ivan and Masha
expect so much that they jump to what they aspire to instead of checking carefully if the winning
numbers match the number they’re holding. What happened left them both with despair and
disappointment. In life, I don’t expect too much, I just let things happen for I know that there is a
reason behind them. If I fail my grade despite the sleepless nights of reviewing, I don’t get mad.
For me, it is a reminder that I’m still lacking something, that I must push myself harder because I
lack maybe effort, more readings, etc. The story also made me realize the power of money. It
reminded me that if I become rich, I must not change the good deeds I had before. That I must
not let money manipulate me and make me a greedy person just like what happened to Ivan and
Masha. It also underscores the importance of finding contentment and satisfaction in life
regardless of one's financial situation. Despite not winning the lottery, Ivan and Masha have each
other and a comfortable life, they are earning and in a secured lot. Although I also can’t blame
them for wanting more, gambling isn’t a solution, there’s only a probability that you can win
such a game by luck. One’s success and triumph in life are not guaranteed, so one must always
be prepared for the setbacks that may occur.
9. Wealth should not be feared from a psychological standpoint, instead it is the person who
manifests such wealth because it is in his/her hands whether he/she will use it for either good or
bad reasons. If a person uses it to gain power and abuses its use to degrade other people, that is
something we should be alarmed about. Something to be feared is when that person becomes
so dependent on his/her money to the point that he/she would do everything, even the bad
things just to earn money. Nowadays, where life revolves around money, if you are wealthy you
can do and experience things freely without being worried. You have the means to go to
different places beyond borders unlike those who are poor. Some people abuse their wealth to
do bad things, and some escape being condemned for crimes because they have the money,
because of wealth there are injustices and equality just like here in the Philippines,
environmental degradation, corruption, and exploitation, and lastly, loss of moral compass. All
these things will not occur if the person of wealth uses what they possess for good means, that’s
why it depends on the beholder.

10. I do believe that somehow, money can buy happiness. Happiness can come in many forms, it’s
not just the pure laughter that we show when someone jokes with us, or someone makes us
smile. Some people find happiness in using their money to buy things, for a reason to heal their
inner child, pursue experiences that bring them joy and fulfillment, buy things to help other
people who are in need, and make others happy as well. Being happy depends on how people
perceive it. We are emotional beings that are different from each other, some people can be
happy with small things, and some need extravagant things to be satisfied. Money alone may not
guarantee happiness, but it can play a significant role in forming opportunities for personal
growth, meaningful experiences, lasting memories, and overall well-being which could serve as a
bridge to make a person happy.