Binh seems to understand paris fairly well, he mentions that he had been in paris for over three years. He profiles people to the point where he creates three categories and dumps each in to one. The people who he lists are those he meets from job interviews. Some have a reaction of not hiring him just because he is from Indochina. Others just don't think he is up for the job.
He has what i like to call "Travel Smarts" He is given money for a second class ticket but buys a third class ticket instead. It still gets you to where you are going so it is not big deal to spend the extra cash on softer seats!
Binh makes it clear that he is uncomfortable in Paris, "I am the asiatique, the side show freak." He compares living and working for GertrudeStein and Bilignin is like a circus.
I'm going to take a guess that he is living in paris because this story takes place circa 1929-1930s. Indochina at the time is colonized by the french.
Great post, Gary. But are there any clues as to Binh's gender prior to page 483? Also, aside from being "Travel Smart", why else do you think Binh chooses to travel third class, rather than second class, and spend the extra money the way he does?
ReplyDeleteWe should look into history and do some research, but I believe you are correct about Indochina being a French colony in the 1930s.