Dawan

1) Determined
Dawan is a determined young girl. Dawan insist on going to study in the city, even
though many people including her brother and father disagree with the idea. Dawan
works reall hard to convince her father to give her the permission. In fact, Dawan does
not give up on her dream although she learnt from Noi that the city is a cruel and
dangerous place to live. Instead, she become even more motivated to learn how the whole
system works in order to help her village ( pg 37). In adddtion, Dawan also confronts her
father during the dinner about letting her go to the city. However, the father chides her by
saying that schooling would have been more useful for Kwai not Dawan. When Dawan
realized that Noi and her mother will not be able to help her convince father, she tries to
seek eternal support from the monk. This proves that, Dawan does not easily surrender
when facing challenges. However, Dawan is disappointed when the head monk does not
support her going to the city only because she is a girl.
Timid
Dawan is a also a timid person because sometimes she lack the courage to do want she
wants. There are many incidents in this novel that proves this. In the beginning of the
novel, Dawan does not have much confidence to speak in classroom especially to her
teacher. This is because she thinks that the teacher has high hopes for Kwai only.(7) . In
fact, she does not believe in her capability to succeed in examination and life because as
she said Im a girl, Kwaionly asks questions during the result day after being
persuaded by Kwai. Page 7. Dawan is very hesistant when asking questions in the
classroom because she rarely does so. This shows that she is a timid person. Besides that,
when Dawan is finally going to leave her village, she is overwhelmed with emotions. She
does not have the heart the leave everything behind to pursue whats in the city. In fact,
she cries her heart out because changing scares her. This shows that, Dawan is starting to
lose her courage to go the the city. Fortunately, grandma told Dawan that if she is this
timid , she will not be able to face all the the struggles in the city. Grandmothers advise
has motivated her again to pursue her dreams.
Caring
Dawan is also a caring person. Even though her brother Kwai can be a little bit selfish,
Dawan still cares a lot abut him. For example, when the teacher announces that she wins
the scholarship, Dawan looks for her brother first instaed of taking time t be proud of her
achievement. This is because she knows that he will be disappointed as he want the
scholarship very much She offered Kwai her own umbrella when she sees him drenched
in rain on the bridge. She is worried that he would catch a cold. She pleads him to take
the umbrella or at least go home to keep himself dry. This shows that Dawan is a selfless
person because she cares about her brothers well being more than anything else. In fact,
she does not even think about her own injury caused by Kwai himself. Page 86.

2) Kwai
Ambitious
Kwai wants to achieve a lot of things by winning the scholarship to study in the city. He
has come up with plans in order to improve their life in the village. Hence Kwai aspires
to study in the city because he can learn a lot of new things that will be helpful for the
villagers in the future. In fact, he wants to study hard so that he can come back to teach
his father how to raise new crops, use better fertilizers and if possible set up a hospital for
his village. This shows that Kwai is very enthusiastic about his future.as he readies
himself to hold the responsibilities to help the village if he wins the scholar ship. Page 19
Hence, when he finds out that Dawan wins the scholarship, he becomes devastated.
However, he does not give up easily.He tries very hard to take the scholarship away from
Dawan by persuading her to give in. In fact, he even tries to put her Dawan by doubting
the her capability to fight, argue, lead people in crisis, jus becaus eshe is a girl. Besides
that, Kwai also threatened to tell his father that he is placed second. This shows that his
ambitions has driven him to be unpleasant to his sister.
Supportive
Kwai is also very supportive of his sister, Dawan. At the time, girls are not allowed to got
to school. Fortunately, Kwai managed to 57 persuade their father to allow Dawan to
study. Without the support from Kwai, Dawan will probably not get any education at all
similar to Bao. Besides that, Kwai also knows that his sister can be a little timid, hence he
always encouraged her to believe in herself. In the beginning of the story, Dawan does
not believe that she too can win the scholarship. But Kwai gives her moral support that
she has a good chance at winning the the prize.In fact, Kwai also supports Dawan by
encouraging her to speak up in class and asks the questions she wants to ask. Without
Kwais help Dawan might never have the courage to speak in front of the teacher.
Rsponsible:
Thoughtful
Kwai showed his thoughtfulness by helping a person in need. When he sees Vichai tries
hitting Bao, he quickly comes to rescue her by restraining Vichai.

Immature

Father
He is impatient
Page 27
Her father becomes impatient first and grunted Well, Dawan, what is it?
Hot tempered
Stuborn
Mother :
Moody
Loyal to her husband
Dawans mother is a traditional housewife who listens to her husband. She does not say
anything that might make her husband angry or displeased. For example, when mother
heards that Dawan wins the scholarship, she does not support Dawan at all. When Dawan
asked for her permission, she only Said Its not my place to say anything. However, she
volunteers accompany Dawan to Nois house. This shows that , Mother wants her
daughter to study in the city, but she can give support because she does not want to betray
her husband. Pg 32
Pessimestic : She does not even encouraed her Dawan to persuade her father because she
know that he wont allow her to do so. This shows that Mother is a pessimistic person.
Page 30
Bao
Generous person - She gave the lotus to Dawan for free PG. 60/64
She offered to free one sparrow and Dawan could pay Next week
Friendly : She befriended Dawan even though they just met.
Supportive : She encourages Dawan to fight for her right to study in the city instead
of letting Kwai snatch it from her. Pg63

Grandmother :
Encouraging : She is the first one in the family to congratulate Dawan. She insist on
bringing Dawan to Nois house Even though Mother opposed the idea.
Supportive: