Babel Character Analysis

Robin

Robin is the novel’s protagonist. He is Professor Lovell’s biological son, and his mother dies just before the novel starts. He is also Griffin’s half-brother and is close friends with Ramy, Victoire… read analysis of Robin

Professor Lovell

Professor Lovell is Robin and Griffin’s biological father. He is a professor at the Translation Institute at Oxford, called Babel, where Robin studies. Professor Lovell represents the violence, exploitation, and racism that undergird… read analysis of Professor Lovell

Ramy

Ramy is Robin’s closest friend at Babel, the Translation Institute at Oxford. He is friends with Victoire too and is also friends with Letty until Letty betrays the Hermes Society. Ramy is from… read analysis of Ramy

Letty

Letty is in Robin’s cohort at Babel. She is friends with Robin, Ramy, and Victoire. While Ramy, Robin, and Victoire all wholeheartedly embrace the ideals of decolonization advocated for by the… read analysis of Letty

Victoire

Victoire is close friends with Robin, Ramy, and Letty. Victoire is from Haiti and spent a significant time in France before matriculating at Oxford. As a young Black woman, at Oxford, Victoire… read analysis of Victoire

Griffin

Griffin is Professor Lovell’s biological son and Robin’s half-brother. He is also the first member of the Hermes Society—a clandestine, anti-colonialist group—who Robin meets, and Griffin recruits Robin to join the Society. Additionally… read analysis of Griffin

Anthony

Anthony is a well-liked postgraduate student at Babel when Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty first arrive. He was enslaved when he was younger and is emancipated when he comes to Oxford. Midway… read analysis of Anthony

Professor Chakravarti

Professor Chakravarti is a professor at Babel. He is Robin’s advisor for his independent research project during his third year. Robin likes Professor Chakravarti, and Chakravarti often treats Robin more like a colleague… read analysis of Professor Chakravarti

Professor Playfair

Professor Playfair is a professor at Babel. He is one of the first teachers who Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty meet. He has a theatrical teaching style, and Robin and his… read analysis of Professor Playfair

Professor Craft

Professor Craft is the only female professor at Babel. She ultimately joins Robin and Victoire when they take over Babel. Early in the novel, because Craft is a woman in a field dominated by… read analysis of Professor Craft

Sterling Jones

Sterling Jones is a star member of the Babel faculty. He was in the same cohort as Griffin when they were both students at Babel. As a character, Sterling represents the racism and assumed superiority… read analysis of Sterling Jones

Evie

Evie is a former student at Babel in Sterling and Griffin’s cohort who was noted for being especially brilliant. Griffin killed her with a silver bar after she told him that she was involved in… read analysis of Evie

Mr. Baylis

Mr. Baylis is a representative from the British corporation that Robin and his cohort represent in negotiations with the Chinese government when they travel to Canton, China. Mr. Baylis is outspokenly racist and in the… read analysis of Mr. Baylis

Commissioner Lin

Commissioner Lin is a representative from the Chinese government who Mr. Baylis negotiates with in Canton. Mr. Baylis attempts to convince Commissioner Lin to allow British companies to import opium into China. Because of opium’s… read analysis of Commissioner Lin

Robin’s Mother

Robin’s mother dies of cholera just before the book begins. While Professor Lovell uses a silver bar to revive Robin, Robin realizes that Lovell could have just as easily done the same for… read analysis of Robin’s Mother

Lincoln

Lincoln was Letty’s brother. He died while a student at Oxford after drinking heavily one night and falling asleep near a cart that subsequently ran him over. While Lincoln was alive, Letty was frustrated… read analysis of Lincoln

Minor Characters

Abel

Abel is a representative of the labor movement that works with Robin and Victoire after they take over Babel. As a character, the novel uses Abel to suggest that there is solidarity and common ground between anti-colonialist and workers’ rights movements.

Miss Betty

Miss Betty is a woman who Professor Lovell paid to teach Robin English while he was growing up in Canton, China. Miss Betty’s role reinforces the idea that Professor Lovell only fathered Robin to supply Babel with students fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Colin

Colin is a middle-class student who lives in the same building as Ramy and Robin. He is racist and status-obsessed. The novel compares him with Elton to show how racism animates the actions of White students at Oxford across socioeconomic lines.

Elton

Elton is a popular student at Oxford. He represents the undue privileges afforded to people as a result of their Whiteness and wealth, particularly because Elton is portrayed as racist, insufferable, and talentless.

Mrs. Piper

Mrs. Piper is Professor Lovell’s housekeeper who treats Robin with kindness.

Babel

R. F. Kuang

Babel Characters