Cereus Blooms At Night

The sexual and gender identities of many key characters in Cereus Blooms at Night are depicted as complex, multilayered, and fluid. Explain how these expressions of gender and sexuality can be used to critique the structures of Lantanacamaran society. You may consider issues like traditional gender roles, sexual orientation, and family and kinship in your analysis.

How does Cereus Blooms at Night depict the effects of colonialism and imperialism on the inhabitants of Paradise? Use textual examples to support your analysis.

Discuss the role of rumors and gossip in Cereus Blooms at Night. How does gossip help to spread information, and how does it harm the characters?

In what ways do nature and the natural world affect the characters? What are the connections between the characters and the environment, and why are these connections significant?

Tyler is the only narrator for Mala’s story. Given what we know about his character and his relationship with Mala, is he a reliable narrator? Provide evidence from the novel to support your position.

Explore the ways death and decay are portrayed in Cereus Blooms at Night. What purpose does death serve in the novel?

In the second half of the novel, there are several sections in which Pohpoh and Mala are depicted as distinct characters. Mala even talks directly to an imaginary Pohpoh in many scenes. What is the effect of separating Mala and Pohpoh? How does this help the reader understand Mala’s response to the trauma she has experienced?

Race is a key aspect of Lantanacamaran society, although its significance is not always directly stated. Explain how race influences the experiences and relationships of the characters in the novel. How does whiteness impact the characters’ own racial identities?