John
Protagonist John is only 19-years-old when he is arrested for first degree murder. Despite the security of his external circumstances -- a steady job at his dad's restaurant and admission into Cambridge -- he is intentionally compromised. As both a gay man and half Chinese in London, John faces some potentially serious discrimination. Unable to reconcile these parts of his identity, he slips into a pattern of self-loathing and makes a series of unfortunate decisions. After numerous unfulfilling bathroom hookups with other gay men, John goes to see a psychiatrist. This helps some, but then he meets Tom. John projects all his insecurities onto Tom, seeing him as some mythic figure of acceptance and courage. When Tom proves just as insecure as John, he becomes the single target of John's obsessive hatred.
Tom
Tom is quite a bit older than John. He is an investment banker. And he's white, a fact which matters to John. When Tom hooks up with John, he is immensely attracted to the young man. He invites him back to his home several times, initiating what promises to be an intimate long-term relationship. As he observes, however, how John treats himself, Tom becomes increasingly disgusted by the younger man. He doesn't want to match that level of self-loathing. He tells John this after they meet up in a public restroom for the last time.
John's Father
John's father owns a Chinese restaurant in London. Concerned for his son, he offers him work and anticipates that John will someday take over his business. While he supports the Cambridge endeavor, he also distrusts John's ambition because he can observe that something is off with his son. He continues to contribute to John's angst as he advocates for traditional Chinese values.
Dr. Jack Worthing
Dr. Worthing is a psychiatrist who works with John for several weeks. His character is the only one to try and help John accept himself for being gay. In fact, Dr. Jack Worthing is also the name of a character in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest. He speaks out against the homophobic cultural dominant in order to try and sincerely help John with his mental health.
