The Paper Menagerie Character Analysis

Jack

Jack, the protagonist of “The Paper Menagerie,” is the biracial son of a white American father and a Chinese immigrant mother. When Jack is a child, he has a close relationship with his mother… read analysis of Jack

Jack’s Mother

Jack’s mother is born in the 1950s in China. In early childhood, she learns from her mother how to fold paper into animals and breathe magic life into them. When she is ten, both… read analysis of Jack’s Mother

Jack’s Father

Jack’s father is an American man who meets Jack’s mother, a Chinese woman, through an introduction service that matches American men with Asian women. He first sees her in a catalogue of women… read analysis of Jack’s Father

Mark

Mark is Jack’s childhood neighbor. One day, Mark brings an Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure to Jack’s house. When Jack shows Mark his own toys, the paper animals, Mark calls them “trash.” When Jack’s… read analysis of Mark

Susan

Susan is Jack’s college girlfriend. After Jack’s mother dies, she comes home to help Jack and Jack’s father pack up the house. She finds the box of Jack’s childhood paper animals and declares Jack’s… read analysis of Susan

Minor Characters

Two Female Neighbors

These two women are Jack’s childhood neighbors. He overhears them exchanging racist gossip about his family, questioning why Jack’s father married Jack’s mother and criticizing Jack’s biracial looks.

The Young Chinese Tourist

This young woman helps Jack by translating the letter that Jack’s mother left for him.