Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Shukumar, Mrs. Das, Sanjeev, Mr. Sen, the residents in Boori Ma's building, Haldar

What's wrong with all these characters? In a word, they're complainers, not "do-ers." More important, they have no good reason to whine (relative to the other people in their stories, that is).

Shukumar acts like a child who can't take care of himself, even though his wife brings in the dough and had to endure the delivery of their stillborn baby without him. And he's cruel when he tells her about the baby's sex—something Shoba really didn't want to know.

Sanjeev and Mrs. Das, on the other hand, can't appreciate what they have. Sanjeev's got a great wife, house and job, but he can't appreciate how awesome his wife is. Mrs. Das cheats on her husband and has a child with another man, but she doesn't tell anyone about the secret except for Mr. Kapasi. She complains about her comfortable life in America; she admits to wanting to "throw everything I own out the window, the television, the children, everything." (IM 152) She's probably one of the least likable characters in the collection. There's probably a reason why she's been so unhappy in her role as wife and mother, but that's another story…

The residents in Boori Ma's building are like that too: complainers. They get a new basin for communal use, no charge, and instead of appreciating it, they just want more stuff. They're resentful and envious and, worse, they throw out poor, innocent Boori Ma.

Haldar is like the residents: he throws his orphaned cousin Bibi out of the house. He's also verbally and psychologically abusive to Bibi, who's a victim of seizures and is mentally unstable. Definitely a class-A villain.

Mr. Sen isn't a terrible guy like the above characters. He acts as more of an obstacle to Mrs. Sen than a true villain. Because he's so busy with his job, she feels even more isolated and depressed. His refusal to go to the market for her results in the car accident that ends the only close relationship she has.