Fleming is not a villain but a realist. He shows how even “well-intentioned” colonials are complicit in systemic injustice. His character complicates any simple colonizer/colonized binary. 6. Mrs. Hamilton – Head of the Missionary School Role: Paternalistic reformer. Background: Runs a Christian missionary school for “fallen women” and orphans.
Thorne represents the colonial system’s pattern of exploitation and abandonment. His reappearance is a legal and emotional crisis for Pom. 5. Mr. George Fleming – Employer and Mentor Role: Complex colonial figure. Background: A British publisher in Calcutta who runs a small press. He is cultured, relatively liberal, and appreciates Indian literature. cast of the sleeping dictionary
Thorne does not appear extensively but looms large in Pom’s memory. He abandons her upon learning of the pregnancy. Later, he tries to claim Hannah, not out of love but because his British wife cannot bear children. Fleming is not a villain but a realist
Introduction The Sleeping Dictionary (2013) is a historical novel by Sujata Massey, set primarily in British-ruled India (Bengal) from the 1930s to the 1940s. The story follows a young woman named Pom, who navigates poverty, colonialism, and personal reinvention. The title refers to a "sleeping dictionary" — a colloquial term for an Indian mistress who teaches an Englishman the local language and customs, often through an intimate relationship. The novel’s cast is richly drawn, representing various strata of Indian society and the British Raj. Below is a detailed analysis of the main characters. 1. Pom (later Sarah, then Pamela) – The Protagonist Role: Central narrator and survivor. Aliases: Born Kamala (tribal name), renamed Pom by a madam, later becomes Sarah (in a missionary school), and finally Pamela (in her adult life as a writer and activist). Background: Runs a Christian missionary school for “fallen