A Wish in the Dark

Consider A Wish in the Dark as an adaptation of Les Misérables. Why do you think the author chose to tell the story from a child’s perspective rather than an adult’s? How does the author use the child’s perspective to create compassion for both Pong and Nok?

Choose one of the elements of Thai culture in the novel and analyze its contributions to the work.

Discuss the novel’s theme of redemption and worthiness. How does the fear of being unworthy drive characters’ actions and beliefs in the novel? What are the consequences of overly fixating on one’s own darkness, and how would the novel’s ending differ if the characters had remained trapped in that thought pattern?

Nok undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the novel. Although she allies with Pong in the end, she initially supports the Governor and stands against Pong. Is there any point at which Nok is portrayed as an antagonist? Does the novel present her as less good than Pong because her moral imperative at first leads her to incorrect conclusions?

Respond to the argument between Nok and Pong in Chapter 16, wherein the two characters debate laws, fairness, and who can decide them. What is the function of law and order and the role of crime and punishment in a society? Is it okay to break the rules if they are unjust? Consider other characters’ perspectives on the law, such as Ampai’s and the Governor’s.

Consider Father Cham’s lesson that the desperate deserve compassion and Warden Sivapan’s statement that everyone is trapped by their circumstances. How do those two statements complement each other? What might acts of desperation look like for people in differing circumstances—for example, for the privileged and the oppressed? Can all acts of desperation be forgiven?

Analyze the symbolism of wishes and darkness in the novel. What does each represent? How do they communicate the novel’s themes? What do you think is the ultimate “wish in the dark”?

Consider Father Cham’s perspective that he should not use his gift to impose his intentions on the world, even if they are good (96). Do you agree or disagree with this statement? How does it speak to power’s corruptibility and the scale on which good can or should be enacted? How does Pong use this lesson in the novel?