The Characters
The Characters:
1970s:
Narrator:
- English background, but her grandparents Douglas and Tessie have lived in India (p.7 )
- comes to India to find out about her family’s past (especially Olivia) + self-discovery + getting to know India and its culture
- read Olivia’s letters (p.8 )
- tries to adapt to India as much as she can (wears Indian clothes)
- doesn’t need furniture in her room à modest person (she says she doesn’t want to be distracted from the scene – wants to concentrate on India and finding out about her family’s past) (p.6 )
- doesn’t complain about Indian culture à open-minded, tolerant and able to understand the Indians (pp. 7-8 )
- has conversations with other Europeans – she is interested in their experiences – maybe wants to learn from them
Inder Lal:
- landlord of the narrator’s apartment, government officer (p.11)
- lives with his wife, mother and 3 children in some poky rooms
- lots of jealousy and intrigue against him àpeople want to pull him down (p.17)
- very polite, afraid to embarrass people
Ritu:
- seems to be proud of her son
- narrator and her became friends
- she is widow, but seems to enjoy her life
- easy-going, gay and friendly
Chid:
- also English background (p.25)
- came to India to find spiritual enrichment (p.27)
- he has lived like a pilgrim for months
- has a shaved head, leaving only a Hindu tuft on top
- isn’t bothered by negative sides of India (dysentery, robbery,…) – possession and clothes aren’t important to him – only the spiritual purpose counts
- was given the Indian name Chidananda (Chid)
1920’s:
Olivia:
- Olivia went from England to India after she got married with Douglas
- in the beginning she doesn’t like it there, doesn’t feel comfortable, because everything is new to her
- spends the days mostly on her own, because Douglas is at work
- the first time, she feels happy in India is at the Nawab’s dinner party (p.19)
- she is somehow attracted to the Nawab, wants to see him again (p.22)
- can’t speak any other language than English, what makes it hard for her to have a conversation with Indian people like the Begum à she feels left out
- is scared of having a baby in India after finding out about the Saunders’ baby’s death
- has always been affected by graveyards, is touched by seeing the baby’s grave (P.29)
- admires Douglas (p.20)
Douglas:
- is extremely busy with his work in the district (p.19)
- leaves the house early in the morning and comes back home late in the evening, then he still has to do some work
- has grown up in India, is used to the country and culture
- understands Olivia’s problems, tries to soothe her and make her feel better
- seems to really love Olivia (p.31)
- doesn’t seem to like the Nawab, doesn’t accept his invitation (p.24)
- constantly dealing with Indians – doesn’t like the rich men: “they were all fat, and wore spotless loose white muslin clothes, and shone with oil and jewellery.” “They think they’re frightfully cunning but they’re really like children.”
The Nawab:
- governor in India
- lives in a huge palace in Khatm
- is married to Sandy, but doesn’t live with à she is mentally ill (pp.35,36)
- is fond of entertaining Europeans (p.19)
- always comes with a whole party (P.22)
- very self-confident, feels like a really important person (p.22,23)
- interested in Olivia, makes her compliments – “I feel I can tell you anything, anything at all, and you will understand” “You are much more the same type like myself…”
- very dominant, commanding person, but can also be really charming to Olivia
The Begum:
- Nawab’s mother
- in her fifties, handsome
- relaxed manner
