Going Places Summary | English Class 12

Summary Note

Chapter overview

Summary

Study Note

Going Places overview

'Going Places' by A. R. Barton explores the theme of adolescent fantasising and hero-worship through the life of a young girl named Sophie. Sophie belongs to a lower-middle-class family and is earmarked to work in a biscuit factory after finishing school. However, she lives in a world of dreams, completely detached from her harsh reality. She imagines herself owning the most amazing boutique in the city, becoming a manager, an actress, or a fashion designer. Her friend Jansie, on the other hand, is a grounded and practical girl who constantly reminds Sophie of their financial constraints and urges her to be sensible, though Sophie completely ignores her advice. Sophie’s family members are fully aware of her tendency to weave wild tales. Her father is a hardworking, practical man who scolds her for her unrealistic dreams. Her elder brother, Geoff, is an apprentice mechanic who speaks very little. Sophie is fascinated by his silence, imagining he visits exotic places and meets interesting people. She longs to be a part of his mysterious world and shares her biggest fantasy with him to win his attention. She claims to have met Danny Casey, a young and famous Irish football prodigy, at the Royce's window arcade. Though Geoff and her father highly doubt her story, she continues to weave a detailed narrative about their interaction, even claiming that Casey promised to meet her again for a date. On Saturday, the family makes their weekly pilgrimage to watch United play, where Casey scores a brilliant goal, further fueling her obsession. Her family's disbelief does not stop her from diving deeper into her illusion. The climax of her fantasy occurs when she actually walks to a solitary spot by the canal and waits for Danny Casey to arrive. As time passes, the harsh reality dawns upon her. She slowly realises that he is never going to come, because the meeting was entirely a product of her own imagination. This realisation brings her a deep sense of sorrow and a heavy burden of sadness. Even then, she struggles to let go of the fantasy, replaying the imaginary meeting in her mind. The story beautifully captures the psychological complexities of a teenager trying to escape the mundane struggles of middle-class life through grand illusions. Barton highlights how hero-worship and unrealistic daydreams can provide temporary comfort but ultimately lead to inevitable disappointment and emotional pain when reality strikes.

ByteNotes

Keywords

Important chapter terms

Keywords

Study Note

Going Places keywords

Important Terms

Incongruity

The state of being out of place or not fitting in with the surroundings

Example: There was a strange incongruity between his rough hands and the delicate way he painted.

Prodigy

A young person endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities

Example: The young chess prodigy defeated the grandmaster in just fifteen moves.

Chuffed

Very pleased, delighted, or proud of something

Example: He was absolutely chuffed when he received the award for the best student.

Melancholy

A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause

Example: The rainy weather always filled her with a deep sense of melancholy.

Apprentice

A person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer

Example: Geoff worked as an apprentice mechanic to learn how to repair motorcycles.

Tinkering

Attempting to repair or improve something in a casual way

Example: He spent the whole Sunday tinkering with the broken radio in the garage.

Chastened

Feeling subdued, humbled, or mildly scolded for a mistake

Example: She felt chastened after the teacher pointed out the errors in her project.

Arcade

A covered passage with arches, often containing a line of shops

Example: They took shelter from the sudden rain by stepping into the shopping arcade.

Despondent

In low spirits from loss of hope or courage

Example: He grew despondent after failing the entrance examination for the second time.

Exotic

Originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country; unusually attractive

Example: She dreamt of travelling to exotic islands far away from her busy city life.

Approvingly

Showing or feeling that something is good or acceptable

Example: The crowd roared approvingly as the striker scored the final goal.

Gawky

Nervously awkward and ungainly in movement or posture

Example: The tall, gawky teenager struggled to find a comfortable sitting position on the small chair.