Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Rent Collector, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Power of Literature
Appearances, Judgment, and Hidden Character
Heroism and Self-Sacrifice
Hope and Action
Humor and Resilience
Summary
Analysis
Sang Ly finds Lena causing mischief at the dump and watching two neighbors bicker with amusement. Sang Ly and Lena briefly mention Sang Ly’s father, whom she never met because he mysteriously died outside the hut at the same moment that Sang Ly was born. She has never even seen a picture of him. Lena tells Sang Ly that she has arranged a way to get Maly to safety, away from Stung Meanchey, but they will need Sopeap’s help.
Once again, Lena demonstrates that using humor—even at others’ expense—can help lighten one’s spirits and relieve some of the drudgery and toil of life in the dump. Lena’s inclusion of Sopeap in her scheme to rescue Maly suggests that Lena recognizes the gradual character change in Sopeap as well.
Themes
Sang Ly sends word to Sopeap that she needs to speak to her. Sopeap arrives and reveals that she has known about Maly since she spied her sleeping in Sang Ly’s hut. Sang Ly explains that they have arranged for a family to adopt Maly, but they need money for transportation and to cover the new family’s expenses. When Sang Ly asks if she cannot pay rent this month but use the money for Maly instead, Sopeap refuses. Instead, Sopeap gives Sang Ly the money out of her own pocket, and realizing that they cannot meet today since Sang Ly will be seeing Maly off, announces that she is going to go drink.
Sopeap’s response to Sang Ly’s request is interesting, because she upholds the value of personal responsibility by refusing to let rent slide even for a legitimate reason, while also demonstrating her own generosity and virtue by offering her own money to help save Maly. However, this show of virtue is tempered by Sopeap’s subsequent drinking, suggesting that although she is becoming kinder once again, her own personal journey is far from over.
Themes
That evening, Lucky Fat and Sang Ly say goodbye to Maly. Sang Ly gives Maly the Cambodian book that Sopeap gave her days before, and promises her that someday she’ll learn how to read it. As Lena takes Maly away to safety, Sang Ly knows that this is the best option, but still feels as if she has lost a daughter.
Sang Ly’s gift of the book and reassurance that Maly will learn to read is a promise of a brighter future. Although Sang Ly’s relationship with Maly seems underdeveloped, the fact that Sang Ly feels a motherly affection toward Maly suggests that the young girl came to mean a great deal to her.
Themes
