Through much of the story, Celia wrestles with identity. At their core, how are Owen’s struggles with the issue similar? How are they different?
I think both characters carried something they believed they had to hide for the sake of safety and “fitting in.” Although the specific struggles and consequences of being secretly Chinese or secretly gay were different at the time (and of course are different now), both characters had to learn how to embrace the truth about themselves in order to claim the lives they wanted. While revealing the truth about themselves could be deadly for both Celia and Owen, I suspect that Owen faced an even greater risk. Even so, comparing levels of hardship and risk is probably less constructive than recognizing the commonalities involved in learning to acknowledge and own one’s true self.
I agree with Kathleen. Both had to hide their true identities to stay safe. Both loved someone that they couldn’t be with, though Celia’s situation changed at the end of the story. I also imagine that Owen faced the greater risk.
To put Owen’s identity in the book was absolutely unnessary. Also at the time this took place it was not a subject discussed.
I think Owen being gay was a detail that explained Celia feeling safe with him. Of course they both struggled with identity, but men of that time were more likely to treat a woman badly. I don’t think it was very realistic for a man to help a woman in Celia’s situation in that place and time, but Owen being gay makes it plausible.