The Embassy of Cambodia

Do you agree with Andrew’s response to Fatou’s two stories about seeing dead bodies? How does his response reveal or complicate the theme of The Pain and Suffering of Daily Life? Further, explore an example of exposure to suffering in the news or social media and consider its effect on yourself and others.

How could the Embassy of Cambodia be construed as a character in the short story? Describe its characteristics, even ascribing it human traits where possible. What theme does it best represent and why?

The unnamed narrator talks about racial stereotypes. How does that character highlight the theme of The Consequences of Dehumanization and Stereotypes? Provide and explore two examples.

Besides swimming, how and when does Fatou exert her Self-Reliance, Independence, and Agency? Support your response with textual evidence.

Can Fatou be read as a victim, a damsel in distress, or anything in between? How is she is treated by the other characters, especially at the end of the short story, in relation to her gender? If it is irrelevant to her story, explain why you believe so.

Are the Derawals the short story’s antagonists, or is there a more abstract antagonist at play? Support your response with textual evidence.

Research postcolonial literature. What elements of popular postcolonial theory do you see in the short story? Support your response with textual evidence.

Based on the Derawals’ actions throughout the story, do you think they consider their arrangement with Fatou to be enslavement? Why or why not? Support your response with textual evidence.