Photographs

Photographs represent emotional distance in the novel. They are imitations of life, taken only through the lens of the camera. It is thus appropriate that Sammy is a photographer--he keeps his distance from others in the novel. He moves far away from both parents and sends them photographs to replace his actual presence. The photographs of Nee might spark intimacy between Sammy and her, but the relationship is superficial to Sammy--once the thought of settling down with Nee and having a child crosses his mind, he leaves her and Bangkok behind.

Birds

Birds represent the eyes that capture the history of Bangkok. For instance, in "Flight," sparrows from different generations observe the growth of Bangkok from a small, rural settlement, to a sprawling, concrete city. By the end of the novel, the "birds" are technological devices that travel through the air, recording the images of New...