Genre
Psychological fiction
Setting and Context
The novel is set in Hong Kong and Manila following the declaration of Philippine sovereignty in 1946
Narrator and Point of View
The story is told by an unnamed third-person omniscient narrator; the point of view stays largely with Pepe with some shifts to supporting characters
Tone and Mood
The tone of the story is noir-like and nostalgic; the mood is dreamy and lamenting
Protagonist and Antagonist
Pepe Monson is the protagonist; antagonists include Connie, Connie's mother, and Paco
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the novel is that Pepe does not know how to relate to his father and his friend after they have been psychologically transformed during their visits to the newly independent Philippines.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Pepe concludes that his father and Paco, as Filipinos in exile, have turned into "ghosts" of their former selves because of the disillusionment and madness they suffered upon visiting their former homeland.
