Gitanjali · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
The Poet
major
Also known as Unknown, me, I, thou, mine, myself, Thy, Mine
A restless seeker who turns railway carriages and crowded streets into altars, addressing the divine as lover, master, and guest.
Rabindranath Tagore
major
Also known as Rabindranath, Mr. Tagore
The Bengali poet who carried his own manuscript through trains and omnibuses, closing it only to hide how deeply his own songs moved him.
The Divine
major
Also known as Thou, thee, thy, Lord, God
The beloved addressed as Thou—present in conch shells, July rain, and a lute-player drifting in a boat, yet never fully possessed.
Bengali Doctor
minor
Also known as a distinguished Bengali doctor of medicine
A learned physician mentioned in a poem as a symbol of worldly knowledge.
Chaucer
minor
Also known as Chaucer
Historical poet referenced briefly in the text.
John of the Cross
minor
Also known as John of the Cross
Mystic and poet mentioned in passing allusion.