Lara

Outer characterisation

Lara’s outer characterisation in “Only You Farang Are So Easy to Come and Leave” by Mai Nardone tells us that she is the teenage daughter of an “American” (l. 21) father and a “part Chinese” (l. 8) Thai mother and that she lives in Bangkok. We do not know what Lara looks like, but we know that she studies in English and that she is in love with someone from school: “My British international school was a luxury we maintained. I was fourteen and in love with a boy” (l. 9). She is probably mixed-race; she remarks that her boyfriend treats her like she is “wholly white” (l. 12), even though she presumably isn’t.

Initially, Lara’s family was probably well-off as her father used to work in finance. After an economic crisis that leads to the father’s unemployment, the family’s economic situation worsens.

Inner characterisation

Lara’s inner traits are conveyed through her actions, thoughts, and attitude.

Lara comes across as a person with a developed sense of humour and irony. For example, she jokes with her father: “ ‘We were meant to live by our hands,’ he said. ‘Right, like hand-to-mouth?’ ” (ll. 23-24)

She is also able to make funny observations about her parents behaviour: “ ‘The Thai-Chinese ...