Funny Boy

The protagonist and narrator of the book. He is described as a “funny boy” because he dislikes masculine sports like cricket and enjoys activities traditionally associated with girls, such as dressing up and playing “bride-bride.” Arjie later understands that he is attracted to men, which is not socially acceptable in Sri Lanka. We see Arjie experience puberty, discrimination, and the effects of the civil war through his eyes. We see others falling in and out of love, Tamils and Sinhalese violently clashing, and democracy collapsing. Arjie evolves from a simple boy who loves dressing in saris to a confused teen grappling with his sexuality and ethnic discrimination to a young adult who no longer feels at home in his home country due to civil war. 

Arjie’s mother (Amma means “mother” in Tamil). Arjie loves watching her dress up, but once she is blamed for Arjie turning into a “funny boy,” Amma forbids her son from doing traditionally girlish activities. While her husband is away in Europe, she cheats on him with an old love, Daryl Uncle. Amma begins the book supporting the Sinhalese government and disliking the Tamil Tigers, but after understanding that her lover, Daryl, has likely been murdered by Sinhalese police, her sympathies start to shift toward the Tigers and leaving Sri Lanka, putting her at odds with her husband.