The Expatriates is a novel that is concerned with exploring motherhood. How does Lee portray fatherhood? Use one of the novel’s fathers (Clarke, David, Mercy’s father) to explore her ideas.

The Hong Kong setting is filled with characters of many different nationalities. The three narrators, however, are all Americans. How might the novel be different if Lee used a narrator from a different culture? How would this affect the novel’s themes and symbols?

Lee chooses to narrate the novel through the voices of Mercy, Hilary, and Margaret. Each of these women has different perspectives due to their varied backgrounds. How does she use the narrative voices to develop the characters, especially in their views of each other? For example, how does Hilary’s narration influence Margaret or Mercy’s characterization?