The novel uses the contrasting worlds to highlight social inequalities, cultural misunderstandings, and the global impact of political decisions. The different perspectives reveal the complexity of international relations on a personal level.

Their connection transforms from a relationship marked by guilt and trauma to a complex friendship where both women learn from each other and support each other in dealing with their past.

Humor serves as a survival strategy for Little Bee and as a literary device to balance the gravity of the subject matter. Her witty observations of English society simultaneously create critical distance from cultural norms.