Perveen Mistry

Perveen stands a mere five feet three inches, but her spirit and forward thinking give her a much taller stature. Her name means star in Persian, Arabic, and Urdu, and this is symbolic of the character. Metaphorically, the stars are symbolic of aspiration, inspiration and dreams, and Perveen displays these qualities within the novel. She aspires to become the first female attorney in Bombay, and she is an inspiration to other women—without her, the Farid widows would not have known about their inheritance nor have the courage to leave the bungalow. Additionally, no life would exist without the stars, and, in a similar though smaller way, Perveen’s own courage touches others. She is the central character throughout this novel, and the other characters appear to revolve around her.

She is a dynamic and round character, increasing in complexity in the novel as she faces conflicts...