Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians

by Kevin Kwan

Bernard Tai Character Analysis

Bernard is Carol and Dato’ Tai Toh Lui’s son. He’s generally considered to be spoiled and out of control, but he’s able to get away with his bad behavior due to his father’s high standing in Singaporean society. Due to a family business connection with the Khoo Organization, Bernard plans Colin’s bachelor weekend—but he plans a weekend full of gambling, sex workers, and dog fights, none of which interest Colin. At the wedding, Oliver gets Kitty Pong and Bernard to dance together. The two are discovered having sex at the tea ceremony the next day.

Bernard Tai Quotes in Crazy Rich Asians

The Crazy Rich Asians quotes below are all either spoken by Bernard Tai or refer to Bernard Tai. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
).

Part 2, Chapter 9 Quotes

Bernard paused for a moment, supremely conflicted. He wanted to enjoy the dogfights, but at the same time he wanted everyone to witness the profuse ass-kissing he would receive from hotel management the minute they pulled up to the resort.

Related Characters: Nicholas Young, Lionel, Bernard Tai, Colin Khoo
Page Number and Citation: 244
Explanation and Analysis:

Part 2, Chapter 16 Quotes

“Remember, every treasure comes with a price.”

Related Characters: Dr. Gu (speaker), Nicholas Young, Eleanor Young, Goh Peik Lin , Rachel Chu, Bernard Tai, Goh Wye Mun
Page Number and Citation: 307
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Crazy Rich Asians LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Crazy Rich Asians PDF

Bernard Tai Character Timeline in Crazy Rich Asians

The timeline below shows where the character Bernard Tai appears in Crazy Rich Asians. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 13
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Marriage and Money Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...their fortunes. Carol notes that at least Nick is “a good boy,” unlike her son Bernard. (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 6
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Marriage and Money Theme Icon
Family vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...he’s worried about how Colin is handling such a big event. He then apologizes, as Bernard Tai is planning a massive bachelor party and he needs to go. But he was... (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 9
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Marriage and Money Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...Mehmet, that Colin knows—the other attendees are all “Beijing princelings and Taiwanese trust-fund brats” and Bernard Tai’s friends (Bernard planned the bachelor party). Bernard announces he has a surprise and after... (full context)
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Lionel nervously confirms with Bernard that dogfighting is illegal, and Nick notes that dogfighting is cruel. Upset at the lackluster... (full context)
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Family vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
Alistair wanders in and hugs Nick, ignoring Bernard’s taunts and explaining that he found the hotel easily since he used to skip school... (full context)
Family vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...became friends when, as a boy, Colin pulled little Nick out of the ditch where Bernard had pushed him. Nick was taken with Colin, who had recently moved to Singapore from... (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 15
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...he left the other guys as they started making ice-cream sundaes on nude women. Unfortunately, Bernard trapped Colin by crowning him “the Whipped Cream King.” Mehmet observes that he’s surprised Colin... (full context)
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...that he’s a Young. About 20 minutes later, the helicopter lands on the deck, interrupting Bernard’s hot tub blowjob. As Nick, Mehmet, and Alistair carry Colin to the helicopter on a... (full context)
Part 3, Chapter 8
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Family vs. Individuality Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...he notes, didn’t work so hard to marry upper-middle-class Alistair, and he spins her into Bernard Tai. Stealing Bernard’s partner, Oliver whispers to Kitty that Bernard’s father is extremely wealthy—and Bernard... (full context)
Part 3, Chapter 16
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Family vs. Individuality Theme Icon
...from one of the house’s built-ins—and a child opened the cupboard to reveal Kitty and Bernard Tai in an extremely compromising position. All the guests saw. Nick howls with laughter. (full context)
Part 3, Chapter 19
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Chinese vs. Western Culture Theme Icon
...furniture and art because it’s “satanic.” These images of “idols,” Sister Gracie insists, are why Bernard ran off to Vegas to marry Kitty, a “pregnant soap opera harlot who pretends to... (full context)
Wealth and Absurdity Theme Icon
Marriage and Money Theme Icon
...could. Daisy says that this is what happens when you give kids everything. Carol spoiled Bernard, and now they have Kitty as a daughter-in-law. Nadine muses that they at least saved... (full context)