Essay Questions

What distinguishes the three main protagonists in ‘The Naga’s Journey’?

The three main protagonists are Arun, Don, and Marisa, all coming from Bangkok. Arun is egotistic, and his inventive work involves wrestling his internal demons. Throughout the text, the reader realizes that Arun is selfish and jealous. Don is escaping reality to be a monk not because of the calling, but to cleanse himself and look good before others. After causing a fatal accident that resulted in a child's death, Don goes scot-free, thanks to the corrupt justice system. Later, Don sees petrifying dreams, which makes him abandon his monkhood to be a social worker. On the other hand, Marisa is a career lady working in the film industry, but she gets bored with it because of her age.

What is the relationship between the three protagonists with pi O?

Don, Marisa, and Arun attend pi O's burial because they all have a special attachment to him. The deceased owned a massage parlor, which the three protagonists frequented. Don respects pi O because he is the rogue policeman who helped him escape justice when he was involved in a fatal accident that led to an innocent child's death. Marisa pays her last respects to pi O because he was introduced to her career in the filming industry. Arun is in attendance at this funeral because the deceased is his uncle. Consequently, the three protagonists have a strong bond with the late pi O, and that is why they are all in attendance to pay their last respects to the person they adored.

What is the main thematic issue evident throughout the novel?

The first theme, which is evident throughout the novel, is the lack of ethics. The people who are powerful and influential have no moral standing in society. A good example is pi O, who is a compelling police officer. Instead of fighting for justice and order, pi O is encouraging criminal activities. Don has committed a deadly crime of killing an innocent child due to reckless driving. Do is helped by pi O to escape prosecution because he is declared not guilty. Don knows very well that he is supposed to be prosecuted, but he is helped by pi O to escape justice. Surprisingly, Don turns out to be a monk leading innocent souls who think he is a saint.