Funny Boy

My problem with Funny Boy is not the homosexuality or the opinions of the author, but the main character, Arjie, himself. How disappointing to watch him progress through adolescence and conclude with an insulting gesture towards a man who wants to save hsi Tamil race. I'm aware that Arjie did it out of love for Shehan, and that he didn't realize the larger picture, but it really was a letdown to watch his overall character arc stop with this gesture. Each story in the book has a sense of loss and evasive sadness; Arjie feels it when he's young and knows he cannot play with the girls anymore. He goes outside and watches the tide descend away from the beach and he knows something is gone. This loss creeps in on Arjie and other members of his family, but he doesn't heed its advice when the moment arrives. As he embarasses his Headmaster, he looks over at his family and notices their own sad awareness. I was really bothered by this, almost to the point where I rejected Arjie's character completely. I think he's a very stubborn character who cannot get past his own wants and desires, but I think I can understand why he did what he did. The hindsight might haunt him in the future. I kinda hope it does.