Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Tai

There aren't really any other people who we could say are mentors or guides besides the two Tais. Tai the boatman is a guide because he tells us two important things: Aadam Aziz's nose is important, and not bathing for a long time is a good way to kick a foreigner out of your town. Okay, forget the second one, but the first one is probably one of the most important lessons in the whole book. The second Tai clues us in to another secret: Saleem is in love with Jamila Singer. He didn't even know that, so it's good to find out, but more importantly it helps us to realize how Saleem distorts the facts to suit his interpretation of events. In other words, Jamila Singer is probably dead. Uh, spoiler?