While you all might be interested of my previous book review on "Village By The Sea", I think the characters in the novel might also capture your attention. In the novel, the characters played an essential, important and vital role as from their roles in the novel, they give readers a better view and understanding of the story background and tell us the themes in the novel. With their roles in the novel, they explain the problems and conflicts going through.

1. Hari (protagonist of the story)
   

• Hari was the older and only son in his family in a fishing village, Thul. Being the only son in his family, he had to work at the fields for his family to earn money even if he was still a child. He had also stopped schooling to work and this caused him to lose his childhood. With his family was dysfunctional, his father was permanently drunk and he could not play his role to work for his family. Hari's mother was also severly ill and could not look after her family. This caused him to bear heavy responsibilites and prematurely saddled with this heavy pressure.
  

• Hari is responsible, obedient and knowledgeable as he knows what his family is going through. He knew he had to look after his family when both his parents could not. He also worked in the field at a young age and yet, he did not have any complains about it. He also knew he must quickly find a solution to solve the poverty problems his family was facing. 'He must have a job if he was to find his sisters a way out of this dark, gloomy house and the illness and drunkenness and hopelessness'. This shows that he knew he had to do something to solve his family's problems. In addition, Hari is also obedient. The story mentioned that Hari had listened to his mother and brought his younger siblings, Bela and Kamal.
  

• Hari is hardworking, determined and iron-willed to work for his family. To support and earn money for the family, Hari had worked hard in the field. The story mentioned 'He (Hari) was soon sweating in the sun as he bent and pulled and tugged and dug.' In addition, Hari also was determined as he wanted to go to Bombay in search of job to earn more money for his family. He went to Bombay alone with determination to learn to adapt to the changes. Hari also determined to help Bela and Kamal out of this dysfunctional family as the story mentioned "He must have a job if he was to find his sisters a way out of this dark, gloomy house and the illness and the drunkenness and hopelessness that surrounded them like the shadows of the night." Hari was also determined to seek help in Bombay as he said that 'He would have to go to Bombay.'
  

• Hari is also worrisome, pessimistic and doubtful about his future. He was unsure whether what he was doing would help his family. The story mentioned 'How? When? That was still not clear to him.' This shows us that Hari did not know what his future would like as he worried about it.

• Hari was also caring and loving towards his mother and his siblings. While he was away in Bombay, he still did not forget about his family and worried them. This shows that he still cared for his family as the story mentioned 'I will save all my watch money for that (gifts for his siblings in Thul). When he was in Bombay, he remembered his family members. He also wanted to return on Diwalii to reunite with his family which shows his care and concern of his family.

• Hari is also independent in Bombay and knows how to take good care of himself. He dared to got to Bombay by himself without any familiar faces. This shows he could be independent and do things by himself. He was also capable and independent as he could able work in Jagu's Eating house and My Panwallah's watchmending shop although he did not really

Hari was a reponsible, obedient, knowlegeable, caring and independent village boy from Thul. He had to assume both his parents' roles and work very hard since they could not take care of the family. As a result, Hari was prematurely saddled with these heavy responsibilites.