Paradise of the Blind Character Analysis

Hang

Hang is the protagonist and the narrator of Paradise of the Blind. Raised by her mother, Que, in Hanoi, Hang doesn’t know who her father is for the first 10 years of her… read analysis of Hang

Que

Que is Hang’s mother, Uncle Chinh’s older sister, and Ton’s wife. Que’s parents die when she is 19 years old. Soon after, she marries Ton, but when Uncle Chinh returns from the… read analysis of Que

Aunt Tam

Aunt Tam is Hang’s aunt and Ton’s older sister. She is an educated, hardworking woman who keeps up the rice paddies for Ton’s mother, Nhieu. During land reform, she and Nhieu… read analysis of Aunt Tam

Uncle Chinh

Uncle Chinh is Hang’s uncle and Que’s younger brother. He is one year younger than Que but is considered the heir to the family because he is the oldest male. After their parents… read analysis of Uncle Chinh

Ton

Ton is Hang’s father, Que’s husband and Aunt Tam’s younger brother. Hang only learns of Ton’s identity and the story of what happened to him when she is 10 years old. Ton… read analysis of Ton

The Bohemian

The Bohemian is a classmate of Hang’s at the Institute for the Social Sciences. Hang nicknames him in this way because of his resemblance to a famous movie character. After Hang drops out of… read analysis of The Bohemian

Hang’s Traveling Companion

The traveling companion is an older gentleman who sits next to Hang on the train to Moscow. Although they don’t speak much, he is a comforting presence for Hang and protects her from two drunk… read analysis of Hang’s Traveling Companion

Thanh/Aunt Chinh

Thanh is Uncle Chinh’s wife and Tuan and Tu’s mother. She is an intimidating woman and a teacher at the Communist Youth League School. Hang describes her as a bully and points out… read analysis of Thanh/Aunt Chinh

Minor Characters

The Cripple

Madame Mieu’s son, who sings all day in the streets of Hanoi, is known as “the cripple” throughout the book. Hang comes to realize that his song represents unfulfilled dreams, as his (unspecified) disability and his poverty prevent him from achieving much.

Mr. Duong

Mr. Duong is the vice president of Aunt Tam’s village. He attends the banquet for Hang that Aunt Tam hosts, but she criticizes him for his hypocrisy of allowing his daughter to live off of his salary rather than working herself.

The Motorcycle Driver

The motorcycle driver is a man who works for Aunt Tam and frequently transports both her and Hang on his motorcycle. Towards the end of the novel, he tries to get Hang to sell Aunt Tam’s house to him.

Tuan

Tuan is Uncle Chinh’s older son, who is about seven when Hang meets him for the first time. Que fawns over him and his brother Tu because they represent the heirs to the Do family.

Tu is Uncle Chinh’s younger son, who is about three when Hang meets him for the first time. Que fawns over him and his brother Tuan because they represent the heirs to the Do family.

Nan

Nan is one of the peasants put in charge of the land reform campaign in Que’s village, along with Bich. Nan is notorious for her sweet tooth and her laziness.

Bich

Bich is one of the peasants put in charge of the land reform campaign in Que’s village, along with Nan. He is infamous for his laziness and debauchery, which got him kicked out of the army.

Neighbor Vi

Neighbor Vi is one of Hang and Que’s neighbors in Hanoi. She is a close confidante of Que and speaks to her about her problems.

Nhieu

Nhieu is Ton and Aunt Tam’s mother, who dies after being persecuted during the land reform campaign.

Madame Mieu

Madame Mieu is one of Que and Hang’s neighbors in Hanoi. She is the mother of the boy whom Hang calles the cripple.

Mr. Khoa

Mr. Khoa is a Vietnamese graduate student in Moscow. Uncle Chinh works for him.

Madam Vera

Madam Vera is the landlady of Hang’s dormitory in Russia.

Madame Dua

Madame Dua is a woman who works for Aunt Tam.