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Welcome to our in-depth exploration of the captivating characters in Pip Williams’ novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words.
Set against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement in late 19th and early 20th century England, this novel is a tale of language, empowerment, and rebellion. As we delve into the pages of this beautifully crafted work, we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters who come alive with their unique personalities, struggles, and triumphs.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the key characters in The Dictionary of Lost Words, examining their roles, motivations, and relationships within the story. From the protagonist Esme to the supporting characters who populate her world, each individual brings depth and complexity to the narrative.
Let’s delve into The Dictionary of Lost Words and discover the rich tapestry of characters that populate this captivating tale.
The Dictionary of Lost Words Character Analysis
Esme Nicoll
Esme is the protagonist of “The Dictionary of Lost Words,” and the novel follows her journey from childhood to death at age 46. Her lifelong connection with language serves as an empathetic lens for themes of class, gender hierarchies, and the limitations of words in expressing human experiences and the violence endured by women.
Despite her deep intelligence, Esme’s sheltered upbringing in an upper-class family prevents her from fully understanding the privileges she enjoys compared to her servant friend Lizzie, who takes on motherly roles despite being the same age.
Esme becomes acutely aware of the misogyny prevalent in her milieu, where women’s contributions as lexicographers are often dismissed. To address class issues, she undertakes a project to collect colloquialisms from working and lower-class women, expanding her understanding of gender, and learning slang considered taboo by those compiling the OED. Her involvement with the suffragette movement further broadens her perspective.
Throughout her life, Esme experiences various physical traumas, many of which are deeply gendered. She permanently disfigures her hand while attempting to save her mother’s name from a fire, faces pregnancy after her first sexual encounter, gives her baby up for adoption, becomes a war widow, and tragically dies in a car accident.
The novel celebrates Esme’s lexicographical work as a valuable contribution to history but frustratingly denies her the chance to live the life she dreams of.
Lizzie Lester
Lizzie Lester, Dr. Murray’s maidservant and Esme’s loyal friend, remains a constant presence in Esme’s life. Constrained by her social class and position in the Murray household, Lizzie lacks personal agency but wholeheartedly supports Esme.
She assumes a quasi-maternal role, forgiving any mistakes and caring for Esme without expecting anything in return. Even when Esme accidentally breaks Lizzie’s cherished memento from her mother, Lizzie is briefly sad but remains understanding. Despite her deep Christian beliefs, she never judges Esme for her out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
As Lizzie exists on the periphery of Esme’s life, her character is revealed through Esme’s observations. Lizzie surprises Esme with her astute political insights, expressing suspicion toward the suffragettes’ revolution not because she opposes progress, but because she believes it will never benefit someone like her.
Her wisdom challenges stereotypes linking education to intelligence. Lizzie’s perspective offers a nuanced analysis, such as critiquing the violent actions of Tilda and Mrs. Pankhurst’s organization, which she believes harm their cause. Through Lizzie, Williams defies conventional assumptions about the connection between education and wisdom.
Harry Nicoll
Esme’s father stands out as one of the novel’s kindest and most compassionate characters. He deeply loves his daughter, nurturing her curiosity and supporting her interests. Harry prioritizes Esme’s well-being over societal norms, refusing to let convention dictate their relationship.
However, he struggles to address certain challenges that arise from Esme growing up as a woman, such as when she gets her period. Yet, when necessary, he steps up and confronts difficult situations, like withdrawing Esme from an abusive boarding school after a confrontation with Ditte.
Despite his good intentions, Harry embodies the insidious and harmful misogyny prevalent during Esme’s time. Although he privately educates his daughter, he fails to defend her within the Scriptorium, yielding to the wishes of other Dictionary men, including the unpleasant Mr. Crane.
Nevertheless, Harry’s love for words and language leaves a lasting impact on Esme. His fascination with compiling words for the Dictionary inspires her later project to collect Women’s Words.
Gareth Owen
Gareth Owen, Esme’s eventual husband, works as a compositor at Oxford University Press. Esme initially underestimates the complexity of Gareth’s job, assuming it is simplistic. However, as she discovers the skill involved in typesetting, she confronts her own internalized prejudices about class and education.
Like Harry, Gareth shares characteristics such as kindness and unwavering support for Esme. Unlike other men in her life, including antagonists like Mr. Crane and Mr. Dankworth, or more subtle sexists like Dr. Murray, Gareth believes wholeheartedly in Esme’s intellectual capabilities.
During their courtship, Gareth composes an edition of Women’s Words, demonstrating his belief in Esme’s project and leaving the type trays open for additional copies to be printed.
His unconditional love transforms Esme’s initial resistance to marriage, proving that being loved does not equate to being owned—a radical concept during her lifetime. Gareth’s genuine affection and support offer Esme a profound understanding of love and partnership.
Tilda Taylor
Tilda Taylor, an actress and women’s suffrage activist associated with Emmeline Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union, stands out as a unique and influential figure in Esme’s life.
Unlike anyone she has met before, Tilda’s liberated views on sexuality and her modern perspective on women’s rights in 20th century England serve as a striking contrast to the conservative Lizzie.
Both Tilda and Lizzie exert their influences on Esme, pulling her in different directions—Lizzie towards security and tradition, and Tilda towards freedom and exploration. Tilda’s unwavering determination to embrace life to the fullest inspires her to help Esme do the same.
The novel draws parallels between Tilda’s resolute purpose in the suffragette movement and the conviction of men who enlist to fight in WWI. Like them, Tilda is fully committed to using force to achieve her goals, and her fellow activists endure physical suffering, much like soldiers on the battlefield.
Esme is occasionally taken aback by Tilda’s extremism, but their friendship remains steadfast. In later years, Esme comes to realize that despite their differing methods, they were fighting the same battle—to make women seen and heard—and both were deeply devoted to this cause.
I hope you enjoyed my detailed character list from The Dictionary of Lost Words. Happy reading! ❤️