Meeting Maung-Maung

I believe the theme of Pico Iyer's "Meeting Maung-Maung" is kindness and the love of strangers. Throughout the story, Iyer is constantly questioning why Maung-Maung was doing the things he was, and was skeptical of his actions. Iyer "instantly wondered, was the catch-was he framing me, or cunningly putting me in his debt?" He also thinks later "here comes the setup." Iyer is very skeptical but in the end, all Maung-Maung wants to do is help Iyer and to share his knowledge with every tourist he comes across. By bringing Iyer back to his home and so graciously showing his most prized possessions, he is showing genuine feelings and is proving to Iyer he is somebody that can be trusted. Purely through the kindness in his heart.

One effective use of language that Iyer utilizes, is in his description of Maung-Maung. Not only does he describe his basic physical attributes but he also describes how Maung-Maung speaks, such as "he assured me with a quiet smile" and "with a mixture of shyness and pride, he handed over a thick black notebook." The way Maung-Maung carries himself shows a glimpse into the kind of human he is, gentle, kind, and loving.

Another effective use of language is the simile "but I also felt as uncertain as an actor walking through a play he hasn't read." Not only was this effective, but it was also relatable. There are many times when I have ventured blindly into something, not knowing if what I was doing was right or wrong. Iyer was touched by his trust and kindness but was still struggling with the idea that somebody who had so little, could give so much.