The Rent Collector

Sang Ly is the protagonist and narrator. Sang Ly is a poor Cambodian woman who lives in Phnom Penh’s largest municipal dump, Stung Meanchey, with her husband Ki and infant son Nisay. Sang Ly… read analysis of Sang Ly

Sopeap Sin is the Rent Collector of Stung Meanchey and Sang Ly’s teacher. When Sopeap Sin is introduced, she is a bitter alcoholic with no kindness or empathy for anyone. However, as she spends… read analysis of Sopeap Sin / Soriyan

Ki Lim is Sang Ly’s husband and Nisay’s father. Ki Lim provides a meager living for his family by picking through rubbish at the dump to find recyclable materials to sell to a… read analysis of Ki Lim

Nisay is Sang Ly’s infant son. Nisay is constantly ill, stricken with diarrhea that leaves him malnourished and less responsive than a child his age should be. Although numerous Western and traditional remedies fail… read analysis of Nisay

Maly is a young girl who lives in Stung Meanchey. Although she is a couple of years older, Maly is close friends with Lucky Fat. However, after Maly has her first period, she and… read analysis of Maly

Lena is Sang Ly’s mother. Although Lena is originally from Prey Veng, she moves to Stung Meanchey to be close to Sang Ly, Ki, and Nisay, sharing a hut with a distant… read analysis of Lena / Mother

Teva Mao is one of Sang Ly’s friends and neighbors in the dump, who often watches after Nisay while Sang Ly studies with Sopeap. Teva Mao is good-natured and friendly, but Sang Ly… read analysis of Teva Mao

Narin is Sang Ly’s cousin who lives in Stung Meanchey. Though she is mentioned several times, Narin plays a small role within the overall narrative. Her greatest contribution to Sang Ly’s development comes when… read analysis of Narin

Auntie is Sang Ly’s aunt and Uncle Keo’s wife, who gives her, Ki, and Nisay a place to stay while they are in Prey Veng to see the Healer. In a brief… read analysis of Auntie

The Healer is a “witch doctor” who lives in Prey Veng. The Healer appears to Sang Ly twice in dreams, saying that she “should have come sooner,” which eventually prompts her to travel to Prey… read analysis of Bunna Heng / The Healer

The housekeeper is the original Sopeap Sin, who worked for Soriyan while she was still a professor and her family was still alive. Although Soriyan previously thought little of the housekeeper, when the Khmer Rouge… read analysis of The Housekeeper / Sopeap Sin

Rathana is Sopeap Sin the housekeeper’s sister. Towards the end of the novel, when Sang Ly is looking for the housekeeper’s family, Rathana is the first person she meets. Rathana tells Sang Ly about… read analysis of Rathana

Mr. Rangsey is a wealthy man in Phnom Penh who lives in the house Sopeap the teacher lived in when the housekeeper, Samnang, and Sopeap’s son were killed. Sopeap wishes to die in… read analysis of Mr. Rangsey

The businessman is a passenger on the same bus as Sang Ly, Ki, and Nisay. Although the businessman initially appears ornery and selfish, he like the rest of the bus, is captivated… read analysis of The businessman