Looks:  Handsome, trimmed moustache, suit, good aroma,

He wears a suit with a Balliol tie (famous college).

Personality: Indian, but tries to appear as British.

For example by wearing a tie from a British college and reading the English newspaper "The Times".

He is embarrassed of being India, and so he tries to appear as being British.

He is very arrogant: “’You are so very much like everything else in this country, inefficient, dirty, indifferent’, he murmured” (p.178, ll.6-7.) He has many prejudiced towards his own culture and heritage. He won’t see himself as Indian, and fells disgusted towards his own people.

"The Mirror was obviously made in India...Sir Mohan smiled at the mirror with an air of pity and patronage" (p. 178, l. 2-5)

Symbolise how he looks at his own people. The mirror is made in india and he looks at it with an air of pity and patronage.

In this quotation, we see Mohan Lal's arrogance and an oblivious view on his own character. He is very prejudiced toward his own culture and heritage, which he has neglected. He refuses to see himself as an Indian man and aspires to be like the british gentlemen in every way possible.

- "He just ordered her about in anglicized Hindustani, and she obeyed passively" (p.179, ll.37-38)

Mohan Lal does not value his companion very highly. He is very bossy and does not appreciate her character, perhaps he only keeps her around for his own benefits. Lachmi Lal, as the quotation says, always obeys his orders, which is obviously good for him.

He is selfish, manipulative, rude, and impassionate.

(this is also shown on p. 181, ll.27-30)

- "They opened the door, and turned to the half-smiling, half-protesting Sir Mohan" (p. 182, ll. 3-4)

Up until now in the short story, Mohan has felt very superior and like an english men, but in this point of time where he meets two actual real english men, he finds out that he is in fact not an equal. He is afraid to act out in fear of appearing uncivilized, like how he perceives his fellow countrymen to be.

Indians: “loud, aggressive, opinionated, vulgar, dirty” (words with negative connotations)

Focusing on material things (tie, cigarettes, The Times, watch)

Wealthy (“sip his Scotch”, “travels first-class”, “he is eminently well bred”, “rugby”, “college”). He has studied at Oxford University.

"Going home": They both think that they are too good for their own people and think that their people are inferior to them. They feel and act superior.

This quotation shows how Mohan acts in order keep a facade in front of the Englishmen whom he attempts to impress. He tries to gain a certain social status by pretending to be a true Englishman.

"His face lit up as he saw two English soldiers trudging along" (p. 181, ll. 36-37) .

Symbolism

In this particular quotation it is evident that Mohan feels superior to the Indian people and the Indian culture. He feels intellectually, culturally and mentally different to his fellow countrymen, which gives evidence of Mohan's arrogant, superior attitude to life in India.

- Mohan Lal is Indian and talks both english and hindu.

"The Times always attracted attention. Someone would like to borrow it when he put it aside with a gesture signifying; I'v finished with it. Perhaps someone would reconize his Balliol tie" (p. 181, ll. 13-16)

- Mohan Lal wants attention and wants to appear as a British. That is why he wears the tie and reads The Times.

Symbolism

"'Ere, Bill,' he shouted, 'one 'ere"

What class do the soldiers belong to?