The Empress

The play’s protagonist, 16-year-old Rani Das, leaves her home of India to immigrate to Britain, believing that she will work as an ayah for Englishwoman Susan Matthews and her young children. On the journey over… read analysis of Rani Das

Hari Sharma is a lascar and Rani’s primary love interest. After meeting Rani when she is a passenger on his ship, Hari courts her passionately, and the two bond over their shared love of… read analysis of Hari Sharma

Abdul Karim is the Munshi (or teacher) of Queen Victoria; he is also an acquaintance of Rani Das, Hari Sharma, and Dadhabai Naoroji. Abdul meets Rani on the boat from Bombay… read analysis of Abdul Karim

Queen Victoria was the ruler of the British empire from 1837 until 1901; the period of her reign is known, appropriately, as the Victorian era. In real life as in The Empress, Victoria grew… read analysis of Queen Victoria

In both The Empress and in history, Dadhabai Naoroji is a prominent politician—the first Indian person to be elected to British parliament—and a leader of the Indian Home Rule movement. In Gupta’s play, Dadhabai is… read analysis of Dadhabai Naoroji

Lascar Sally is the owner and manager of the boardinghouse where Hari and many other lascars stay when they are in London. She is also a close friend of Firoza’s and, by the end… read analysis of Lascar Sally

Firoza is an ayah who acts as a friend and caretaker to Rani and (eventually) baby Asha. “Very cheerful and slightly eccentric,” Firoza loves travel and the sea, often making the voyage between… read analysis of Firoza

Mohandas Gandhi (or MK as he is referred to in The Empress) is known as the leader of India’s independence movement, and for his pioneering use of non-violent resistance tactics. In the play, Rani… read analysis of Mohandas K. (MK) Gandhi

Cecil Rhodes was an English politician and businessman who governed over the British colonies in southern Africa. Rhodes, known for his efforts to extract natural resources and increase British power by expropriating land from Black… read analysis of Cecil Rhodes

Albert, Prince of Wales is Queen Victoria’s son and the heir to the British throne. Though Albert (whom Victoria calls “Bertie”) never actually appears in the play, his presence is felt through Lady Sarah… read analysis of Albert, Prince of Wales

Susan Matthews is Rani Das’s first British employer. Raised in India by Rani’s mother (who was herself an ayah), Susan hires 16-year-old Rani to care for her children on the voyage from Bombay… read analysis of Susan Matthews

Lord John Oakham is the British nobleman who hires Rani as an ayah after she is fired by Susan Matthews. Though Lord Oakham’s housekeeper Georgie describes her boss as absent and detached from his… read analysis of Lord Oakham

Georgina (or “Georgie” for short) is the housekeeper for Lord Oakham and his children. Georgie hires Rani shortly after Rani is fired by Susan Matthews, advising Rani on how to dress and on Lord… read analysis of Georgie

Serang Ali is Hari’s boss on his ship. As a serang, Ali is responsible for liaising between the lascars (Asian sailors) and the ship’s White, British captain. When the play begins, Ali is… read analysis of Serang Ali

Alongside Charlotte, Mary is a founder of the Home for Ayahs, the public institution that eventually provides housing for both Firoza and Rani. An English missionary, Mary is probably a composite of… read analysis of Mary

Alongside Mary, Charlotte is one of the founders of the Home for Ayahs where Rani and Firoza take temporary refuge. A missionary, Charlotte (like the real-world women who inspired her character) sees her work… read analysis of Charlotte

William is a friend and colleague to Dadhabai Naoroji and Mohandas Gandhi. Though The Empress specifies only that William is a “Liberal politician,” it is likely that the character is based on William Digby… read analysis of William

Asha is Rani's daughter. When Rani is working as an ayah for the Oakham family, Lord Oakham manipulates her into becoming his mistress. She ends up getting pregnant with his child, and instead of… read analysis of Asha