Arjie

Arjun “Arjie” Chelvaratnam is the main character and narrator of the novel “Funny Boy” by Shyam Selvadurai. Arjie, a Sri Lankan, is seven when the novel begins, and in his mid-teens when the novel ends. Arjie grows up with the knowledge that he is gay, stemming from his desire to wear women’s clothing as a child to his sexual attraction to other boys and men as he becomes a teenager.

Arjie’s parents disapprove of his tendencies, so they seek to man him up by sending him to the strict Victoria’s Academy. Here, Arjie falls in love with Soyza instead, having his first sexual experience with Soyza as well. Despite the intolerance Arjie faces for being both gay and Tamil, Arjie believes there is nothing wrong with him, and wonders why the world cannot accept him for who he is.

Arjie’s wide-eyed idealism comes crashing...