Reading Character In Ho Minfong’s The Clay Marble

Abstract

Sarun and Dara share a bittersweet relationship. At the beginning of the novel, the relationship is supportive as Sarun guides and leads the family towards Nong Chan, where there is supposed to be an abundance of food and supplies. He has dreams of gathering supplies at Nong Chan such as food, rice seed, and other supplies so that they can go home, repair the house, replant the fields, and start their life all over again. As a responsible elder brother, he chides her for being impatient in demanding food immediately and complaining that the rice was insufficient and cold. Eventually, their relationship becomes an antagonistic one as their character growth levels head in different directions, with Dara maturing towards becoming a responsible adult and Sarun regressing into becoming a spoilt, temperamental and petty child-like adult.