Olivia Rivers

appearance:

- young English woman

- looks good, always well dressed woman (p. 19)

state of mind:

- usually half in tears, unhappy with her life (p. 19)

- lonely, bored –> has nobody to talk to or a good friend; at the dinner party she is happy to talk to Harry who feels the way she does (p. 21)

- gets happier when she meets the Nawab, gets interested in him: ’realised that here was one person in India to be interested in her the way she was used to’ (p. 22), enjoys his attention (p. 21) and companionship (p. 23)

- feels like an outsider –> party of the Begum (conversation-problems), visit of Mrs. Minnie and Mrs. Crawford (p. 34)

background:

- Douglas’ wife, loves him very much (p. 20): he’s not like the others –> doesn’t want to go to Simla without him (p. 42)

- seems to be rich –> has much possession (best clothes, jewels…)

- has been in India for several months

aims/wishes:

- getting out of her ‘cage’, not feeling lonely

- wants to have someone who treats her the way she deserves it

character traits:

- hobbies: drawing, playing the piano, reading (p. 19, 22)

- attaches importance to decoration of her home, likes to live a luxurious life (in contrast to the narrator) (p. 19)

- dislikes dirt (p.30)

- likes graveyards (p.29)

- can’t speak Hindi, but wants to learn it (p.41)

- sensitive and emotional, feels with other people –> Mrs Saunders who lost her baby (p.32)

- sometimes she feels unsure in front of the Nawab –> ‘Nawabs’s silence disturbed her’ (p.44)