The Long Day Wanes: A Malayan Trilogy

Main Characters and Their Development

• Victor Crabbe — the main protagonist of the trilogy, an English teacher who arrives in Malaya hoping for a fresh start. His internal conflicts and quest for understanding the world around him become central to his development.
• Fenella Crabbe — Victor's wife, whose relationship with her husband is fraught with tension and misunderstanding. Her character and actions reflect the complexity of marriage and personal ambitions.
• Nabby Adams — Victor's colleague, whose cheerfulness and optimism contrast with the protagonist's melancholy. His friendship with Victor adds depth to the narrative.
• Robert Lammle — another teacher, whose cynicism and sarcasm serve as a counterbalance to Victor's idealism.
• Rahim — a Malay student who becomes a symbol of the cultural and social transition occurring in Malaya. His interactions with Victor underscore the theme of colonialism and change.