Karim
Karim is the story's narrator and protagonist. The novel begins when he is seventeen years old, and the reader becomes acquainted with the troubles Karim faces as a half-Indian, half-British teenager in the London suburbs. Karim's dreams seem impossible to achieve on the city's outskirts, but he catches a break when his father begins having an affair with a bohemian, upwardly-mobile lady named Eva. When Haroon (Karim's father) makes the decision to leave the family and move to the city with Eva, Karim takes this opportunity to fully delve into the urban, alternative lifestyle he always hoped to live. Following his move, Karim struggles to balance the old and the new. He begins working as an actor, which he finds exciting, challenging, and promising. However, his movement within the London elite art circles is also a point of criticism. Karim's childhood best friend, Jamila, often chastises Karim for being distant and too focused on frivolous matters. As the story progresses in the years that follow, Karim has a variety of experiences that allow him to mature, develop, and attempt to meld the disparate parts of his life together.
Haroon (Dad)
Haroon, Karim's father, plays a very important role in the novel. Haroon is Indian, and he moved to England as a young adult to study. Karim explains that his father came from a bourgeois Indian family, and he comments on the ways in which his father's entitlement manifests in his adulthood. Although Haroon is Karim's parent, the two develop a relationship that transcends their connection as a father and son. When Karim bears witness to Haroon's extramarital affair, Haroon begins to confide in Karim as a friend and seek his counsel.
Because the story is told from Karim's perspective, the audience gets glimpses into Haroon's struggles without fully understanding their complexity. For example, we see Haroon's interest in maintaining his identity as an Indian, but he is also keen to blend in and be accepted by white British society. In addition, when Haroon leaves the suburbs and moves with Eva to London, Karim observes that his father appears sad, lost, and at times regretful for his decision to leave his wife. Haroon experiences a significant amount of othering throughout the novel, and he struggles to find and maintain a professional path that brings him a sense of satisfaction. However, he is also described as having a certain level of charisma and wisdom that earns him respect from a diverse set of characters. Haroon is undoubtedly complex, and Karim's narration reflects his struggles with his relationship to his father.
Mum
While Karim's father is known by his birth name, Haroon, Karim's mother is only referred to as "Mum" throughout the novel. She is an Englishwoman, and she is described as working-class and traumatized by World War II. Her background strongly contrasts with that of her husband, and Karim's narration seems to underscore the fact that she has been overshadowed by Haroon throughout their marriage. Mum is devastated when she learns about her husband's affair with Eva, and she decides to keep the house with Ali (Karim's younger brother) after Karim and Haroon move out. Although Mum initially seems helpless, she receives essential support from her sister and brother-in-law (referred to as Karim's Auntie Jean and Uncle Ted). As the story progresses, Mum seems to quietly bloom in her life post-separation. She appears happy and light, supporting her son in his newfound artistic endeavors and even reconciling with Haroon.
Eva
Eva is a key figure in the story from its opening chapters, as it is revealed that she is involved in an affair with Haroon. Eva is described as free-spirited and sexually liberated, and she is drawn to Haroon for his "unconventional" thinking and "exotic" lifestyle. Eva has one son named Charlie, and she adores him almost to a fault. She is wholeheartedly supportive of his blossoming stardom, and she fails to notice some of his personality issues. As Eva's relationship with Haroon progresses, she makes the decision to move Haroon, Charlie, and Karim from the suburbs to the center of London. While in London, Eva is preoccupied with being upwardly socially mobile—she begins to socialize with the artistic elite in order to shed her suburban persona. Eva is successful in her mission, and her career as an interior designer exponentially grows. Eva ultimately changes the trajectory of Karim's life, as she introduces him to theater directors that give him acting opportunities.
Charlie
Charlie is Eva's only son, and he grows closer to Karim once their parents begin their affair. At the beginning of the novel, Karim and Charlie have a relationship based on attraction. As the story progresses, the more complicated nuances of their relationship are revealed. Charlie is white and conventionally attractive, and his music career takes off quite quickly due to his his marketability. To a certain extent, Karim envies Charlie—he wishes that he could have a well-received artistic career and be universally adored. At one point, Karim even asks Charlie for a job as a roadie just so he can be tangentially associated with his fame and appeal. In the latter part of the story, it is revealed that Charlie has become a rock superstar and has moved abroad to New York. When Karim and Charlie reunite during Karim's American theater tour, it is clear that Charlie struggles with mental health and anger management issues. In this vulnerable moment, Charlie latches onto Karim and appears to view him as an extension of his own self. In Charlie, Karim is ultimately able to see through the illusions of fame and success.
Anwar
Anwar is Haroon's best friend from his teenage years in India. Like Haroon, Anwar grew up in a privileged family and moved to England to search for different opportunities abroad. Anwar is characterized as having rigid traditional family values, and he often butts heads with his progressive daughter Jamila. Anwar owns a store with his wife, Jetta, and he dreams of Jamila marrying and taking over the family business. When Jamila clearly veers from Anwar's idealized path, Anwar takes matters into his own hands—he arranges for Jamila to marry a man from India named Changez. When Jamila refuses Anwar's plan, he protests by going on a painful and drawn-out hunger strike. Jamila finally concedes, but the decision proves to bite back. Changez and Anwar disagree on a variety of matters, and the two get into a brawl that eventually leads to Anwar's death.
Jamila
Jamila is the daughter of Anwar and Jeeta, and she is also Karim's best friend. Much like Karim, Jamila is caught between two worlds—her father's traditional Indian values are at odds with her own revolutionary ideas. Jamila and Karim's friendship is quite deep, as they truly understand each other's "in-betweenness." The two are also involved romantically throughout their adolescence.
Anwar is unable to accept Jamila for who she is, and he arranges for her to marry a man from India named Changez. Although Jamila strongly protests against her father's plan, she eventually concedes after his hunger strike nearly kills him. Jamila learns to cohabitate with Changez, and while the two do not have the relationship that Anwar wants, they seem to have respect for one another's differences. After Anwar's death, Jamila moves into a communal house and becomes pregnant. Although Jamila's path diverges from Karim's, it is clear that the two have deep love for one another—they are supportive and steadfast friends.
Changez
Changez comes from a wealthy family in India, and he enters an arranged marriage with Jamila at Anwar's wishes. Changez has a physical disability, and he is initially described as being unappealing and strange. At first, Changez has conventional ideas of marriage. He is frustrated that Jamila doesn't desire him or want to have children, and he spends the first part of their relationship trying to convince her to change her ways. However, Changez begins to accept Jamila and their arrangement. His friendship with Karim grows, and Changez begins to enjoy his life in the UK and the freedoms it allows him to have. Anwar is frustrated by Changez's laziness and his inability to be the husband and father he hoped for him to be. The tensions between Changez and his father-in-law eventually culminate in an attack that contributes to Anwar's death. Following Anwar's death, Changez moves into a communal house with Jamila and gladly raises the baby she has with another housemate. In addition, Changez is inspiration for Karim as his acting career develops.
Shadwell
At one of Eva's hosted get-togethers with the artistically elite London crowd, she introduces Karim to Shadwell, a theater director. Shadwell immediately takes a liking to Karim and offers for him to audition for a role in an upcoming piece he will direct. Karim is ecstatic, and he successfully auditions and lands the gig. However, Karim soon learns that Shadwell is directing The Jungle Book, and he specifically wants Karim to play Mowgli. Throughout the rehearsal process, Shadwell is revealed to be arrogant, racist, and misogynistic. For Karim's role as Mowgli, he forces the protagonist to put on a faux Indian accent. Although Karim objects and expresses his discomfort at Shadwell's assertions, the director fails to listen to any feedback. Later on, Shadwell is aggravated with Karim when the young actor is approached by another theater director for a new role. This reaction further underscores Shadwell's possessive and problematic behavior.
Matthew Pyke
After seeing Karim act in Shadwell's play, Matthew Pyke, a prestigious director in the London theater scene, approaches him. Referred to mononymously as "Pyke," he is known for his experimental, unconventional performance and acting methods. Pyke is described as a rather chaotic character; he enjoys partying and drugs, and he often is romantically involved with his actors. Karim enters into a strange relationship dynamic with Pyke, his wife Marlene, and Karim's girlfriend (Eleanor). Ultimately, Pyke woos Eleanor and causes the end of her relationship with Karim. In the final part of the story, Pyke invites Karim to tour in New York, which proves to be a full-circle moment for the protagonist.
Jeeta
Jeeta is an Indian princess and Anwar’s wife. Jeeta is more understanding of Jamila's behavior, and she is against the idea of Anwar arranging a marriage for their daughter. When the marriage between Changez and Jamila does not go as planned, Jetta reprimands her husband. Jeeta runs the family's store alongside her husband.
Eleanor
Eleanor is an actress that Karim meets when they are both cast in Pyke's production. She is from a wealthy family, and Karim immediately notices the differences in their social classes. Although Karim is initially madly in love with Eleanor, he begins to notice some flaws in their relationship—mainly, he feels somewhat tokenized and misunderstood by Eleanor. Karim grows defensive and self-conscious when he hears rumors that Eleanor's ex-boyfriend committed suicide. When he approaches Eleanor about the matter, their relationship begins to unravel. The final straw comes with Karim realizes that Eleanor has been cheating on him with Pyke.
Allie
Allie is Karim’s younger brother. He has a very minor role throughout the novel, as he moves in with his mother after his parents' separation. At the end of the novel, Allie resurfaces and is now a teenager with a girlfriend. A more mature and formed character, he tells Karim that he resents both his brother and his father for abandoning their family.
Aunt Jean
Auntie Jean is Mum's sister and the wife of Uncle Ted. Aunt Jean finds out about Haroon's affair before her sister does, and she attempts to persuade her husband to convince Haroon to end it. After Haroon and Mum separate, Auntie Jean is a very supportive figure to her sister. Auntie Jean convinces Mum and Allie to move in with her, and she is extremely bothered by Ted's involvement in Eva's business and Haroon's new life.
Uncle Ted
Uncle Ted is Jean's husband. At the beginning of the novel, he owns a central heating business and gets along quite well with Haroon. Ted often fixes things around Haroon's house in exchange for Haroon's advice. Ted and Jean are aware of Haroon's relationship with Eva before Karim's mother knows what's going on, and Jean attempts to force Ted to stop the affair. However, Ted is unable to do so, since he ultimately admires Haroon very much. Haroon persuades Ted to quit his job, and after Haroon and Eva move in together, Eva hires Ted to help renovate her wealthy clients' houses. At the beginning of the novel, Karim recounts a traumatizing experience in which Ted exhibited racist behavior when passing through a black neighborhood. This memory represents the racism and hatred evident in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.
Marlene
Marlene is the wife of theater director Matthew Pyke. She and Pyke are very open and adventurous sexually, and she expresses interest in having sex with Karim. Pyke invites Karim and Eleanor to their home, and Karim does spend the night with Marlene. However, he finds her unattractive and brash and regrets his actions.
Heater
Heater is referred to as Eleanor's "main guardian." He deeply dislikes Karim and sees him as a threat to his affection for Eleanor. He works as a road sweeper and gets free tickets to many of the exclusive theater productions in London. His character represents the hardworking proletariat.
Shinko
Shinko is a Japanese sex worker that Changez employs when his relationship with Jamila turns out to be platonic. Their relationship is consistent throughout the novel, and Shinko and Changez both seem to have positive presences in one another's lives. Jamila also enjoys Shinko's company. This dynamic symbolizes the more fluid constructions of family and sex that were emerging in the 1970s.
