Kim
As the eponymous hero of the novel, Kim is born into a life of adventure. Although his orphaned childhood is undoubtedly tragic, Kim is motivated by the chaos of Lahore and his own ability to charm various city characters. While numerous novels in this literary genre follow a hero as they embark on a path of adventure, Kim's starting point is one of dynamism. In this way, the novel follows Kim's coming-of-age.
From the first description, it is clear that Kim is a charismatic chameleon. He is able to chat with Lahore locals (and, for all intents and purposes, be considered a "native Indian") and converse with British folks in the same breath. Kim is unable to fit into English society because he is poor. Meanwhile, he can't quite fit into hierarchical Indian society because he is, ultimately, an outsider. Because Kim doesn't really belong anywhere, he challenges himself to make places for himself everywhere.
Kim's talents are sought out by a variety of adults that he encounters throughout the novel—first the lama, then Mahbub Ali and Colonel Creighton. In a way, these characters each take on a parental role for the protagonist. At one point in the novel, when the Kulu woman tells Mahbub Ali that she sees Kim as a son, Mahbub Ali realizes that so many other characters that Kim meets across the nation share the same sentiment. While these characters all hope to be stable figures for Kim, there is an element of transaction at the root of their relationships. Although Kim's sense of social estrangement can cause the protagonist to feel isolated (especially from peers his age), by the end of the novel it is clear to Kim that he can find comfort and companionship both in his environment & within himself.
The Lama
Kim first meets the lama outside of the Lahore Museum. From their first encounter, the two are able to bond over their positions as social outsiders. While Kim is estranged due to the reasons outlined in his character description above, the lama is a traveler from Tibet and is thus a foreigner navigating India. As their journey progresses, it's clear that the lama and Kim are different in numerous ways. These differences ultimately enable one another to grow individually.
While Kim is very in touch with social dynamics, the lama is much more naive. In a way, the lama's naivety is refreshing—in a world that seems to be preoccupied with external appearances as determiners of social status, the lama is focused on the tenants of the "Great Wheel of Existence." The lama takes on the role of a grandfather for Kim—Kim is extremely attached and would (quite literally) follow the lama to the end of the world in his search for the River of the Arrow. Although the lama struggles with his "earthly attachment" to Kim and what their relationship signifies for his spiritual journey, the conclusion of the novel provides the lama with some clarity on how these two different commitments can successfully coexist.
Mahbub Ali
Mahbub Ali is a horse trader of Afghan Muslim origin. He's living in Lahore and working for the British Indian government when he encounters Kim and immediately recognizes his propensity to be trusted by many different members of the community. Mahbub Ali gives Kim his first spy mission: to deliver a secret message to Colonel Creighton. In this way, Mahbub Ali is Kim's introduction to the Great Game, something that changes the course of Kim's life forever.
Mahbub Ali's judgment is somewhat questionable: Kim encounters him drunk and passed out on numerous occasions, which leads to a certain element of mutual distrust between Mahbub Ali and the protagonist. The relationship between Mahbub Ali and Kim is quite interesting compared to Kim's relationship with the lama. While Kim feels at peace with the lama, he seems to be uneasy when approached by Mahbub Ali. Although Mahbub Ali has a strategic role in the novel, the relationship he shares with Kim lacks emotional depth and understanding.
Colonel Creighton
When Kim travels to Umballa, he is instructed by Mahbub Ali to deliver a letter to an Englishman. This Englishman is later revealed to be Colonel Creighton, a spy for the British. Creighton works as an ethnologist, a position which allows him to gather intelligence to inform British foreign policy. When Creighton meets Kim, he is immediately taken aback by the protagonist's charisma and malleability. He begins making decisions on Kim's behalf (such as enrolling him in school, pulling him out of St. Xavier's Academy before graduation, etc.) to groom him for a career in espionage.
To a certain extent, Kim admires Creighton. He thinks he is aware of Indian customs and geography, which Kim can relate to. In addition, Creighton occupies a position of importance and authority that feeds into Kim's desire for success. Creighton's life is dynamic and exciting, and Kim similarly aspires to live a life of adventure.
The Kulu Woman
The Kulu woman is one of the only female characters in the story. Kim meets this woman while he is traveling south to Benares with the lama before coming across the British base camp. Kim first sees her on Grand Trunk Road traveling with bodyguards. Because she is elderly, Kipling characterizes her as having the societal freedom to let her personality shine.
The Kulu woman bonds with the lama, since both are Buddhists. They even find out that they have a mutual friend, which seems surprising given how large the country is and how far away the lama is from his home. The shared sensibilities between the lama and the woman allow the two to establish a sense of trust which thus allows their relationship to prosper. Throughout the story, the Kulu woman is a stable, reliable, and warm figure for Kim. Towards the end of the novel, she nurses Kim back to health following his debilitating sickness. In this way, she plays a critical role in allowing Kim to reach a full-circle moment in regard to his life and purpose.
The Babu
The word Babu was often used to describe a racist caricature in British India who, despite numerous attempts to assimilate to British culture, was unable to speak proper British English. Here the Babu represents such a figure—bumbling, clumsy, and unattractive. The Babu is first introduced when he escorts Kim from Lurgan's house in Simla to another town. Although there are parts of his appearance and personality that conform to the stereotype, he is also much more savvy than he initially lets on. Because of his experiences and profession, the Babu is culturally aware and intelligent. As the story progresses, the Babu's bravery is put on display—specifically with his treatment of the Russian agents. Like Kim, the Babu exists between British and Indian cultures. However, because he is not white nor young, his duality is seen as more of a deficit than an advantage.
Lurgan Sahib
Lurgan—often called Lurgan Sahib—is an interesting character that Kim finds particularly aspirational. He lives in Simla, the summer capital city, and his house is filled with unusual objects collected on travels. He is portrayed as visually striking—he has a long, black beard and wears remarkable clothing. He's not immediately recognizable as white, which Kim finds both impressive and relatable.
As the story progresses, Kim comes to realize that Lurgan is a spy who specializes in training others for their enrollment in the secret service. Lurgan's ways of training often take the form of mind-bending games and pranks. Although Lurgan teaches Kim, one of his teaching methods is punishment. Under Lurgan's supervision, Kim is often pushed to his physical and emotional limits.
The Hindu Boy
When Kim travels to Simla to meet Lurgan, he finds that his teacher is raising an orphaned Hindu boy. The Hindu boy is extremely attached to Lurgan, at one point even referring to him as "my father and my mother." The Hindu boy can be seen as a foil to Kim. While both are orphans, Kim receives preferential treatment, largely due to his whiteness. The Hindu boy grows increasingly jealous of Kim and sees him as a threat to his own relationship with Lurgan. At one point, he even threatens to harm Kim. When Kim returns to Simla at another point later in the novel, it is revealed that the Hindu boy has married and left Lurgan for good.
The Shamlegh Woman
The character of the Shamlegh Woman gets her name from her Himalayan village. After Kim and the lama have a horrendous encounter with the European agents in the mountains, she offers the two shelter and security. She keeps Kim's stolen papers safe, and she's able to communicate with the Babu in order to alert him of the duo's whereabouts. The woman of Shamlegh is a polygamist with multiple husbands, and she also reveals her attraction to Kim. Although Kim is at first startled by her forwardness, he later teases and plays around with his knowledge of her crush. In this way, Kipling provides clues to Kim's sexual maturation as the story continues from childhood to adulthood.
Kimball O'Hara, Sr.
Although Kim's father dies early on in the story, he significantly influences both the protagonist and the plot. Kim is raised in British India due to Kim Sr.'s role in the war. Originally from a poor family in Ireland, Kim Sr. moved to serve the empire and work on the railway. It is revealed that prior to his death, Kim Sr. was an opium addict who experienced hallucinations. In one of these hallucinations, he told Kim to look for a "red bull on a green field," which turns out to be a very important symbol throughout the story. In Chapter Five, it is revealed that the red bull on a green field is the image on the flag of his military camp. Kim's discovery of his father's old regiment is what ultimately leads to his involvement in the Great Game.
Reverend Arthur Bennett
Kim meets Reverend Bennett when, upon following the flag of the red bull in the green field, he discovers his father's old regiment. Due to Kim's dirty and rugged appearance, the Reverend doubts Kim's claims that he is Irish and that his father is Kimball O'Hara. Additionally, the Reverend is disrespectful to the lama and seems to dismiss his significant involvement in Kim's life. In this way, Reverend Bennett is characterized as uptight, skeptical, and limited.
Father Victor
Like Reverend Bennett, Father Victor works on the grounds of the Irish regiment. While Reverend Bennett is an Anglican minister, Father Victor is a Catholic chaplain. Like Reverend Bennett, Father Victor exposes his racist prejudices in his treatment of the lama. Primarily, he is doubtful that the lama will honor his word and help pay for Kim's enrollment at St. Xavier's. However, he differs from Reverend Bennett in his sense of forgiveness. Father Victor ultimately believes Kim and decides to take him under his wing, and he does learn to respect Kim's friendship with the lama.
Huneefa
Huneefa is blind, and she blesses Kim when he leaves St. Xavier's to be officially involved in the Great Game. During her ritual, Kim loses consciousness. She uses incense and chants, and she draws designs on Kim's skin in order to protect him on the road. Although the ritual seems a bit concerning in its apparent lack of consent, it ultimately proves to be successful.
Agent E.23
Kim runs into Agent E.23 while on the train to the Kulu woman's house. Kim has just been gifted an amulet to wear around his neck that indicates his involvement in the Secret Service when he finds that a fellow train passenger, a man from Maratha, is wearing the same necklace. When Kim shows the man his own amulet in confidence, the man confides in Kim that he is on the run from assassins. Kim uses his spy skills to help this man, who reveals himself as Agent E.23, escape. Kim's quick thinking and knack for disguise are rewarded—E.23 tells the Babu that Kim is very talented and an asset to the empire.
The European Men
The Russian and Frenchmen appear at the end of the novel, when they try to conquer part of the northern region of India. In the Great Game, these characters are fighting for the Russians and are thus positioned against Kim. The European men ruin their mission when the Russian agent strikes the lama. The lama was approached by the Russian man to sell his drawing of the Great Wheel of Existence, and when the lama refused for moral reasons, the Russian agent hit him across the face. After this incident, the men are on the run and must abandon the plans of their former mission. They are forced to leave their belongings and confidential papers, and Kim is sent to recover them.
