Who are the most important people in "Eat, Pray, Love"?

Elizabeth M. Gilbert-  In her mid thirties and just came out of a devastating, interminable divorce and has

also gone through depression.  Developed listening skills as a sympathetic bartender and an inquisitive journalist and even grew up as the super sensitive younger child.

Husband- Her and her husband have been together for eight years and married for six years, till they got a divorce.  They had built their entire life around the common expectation that, after passing the old age of thirty, they would settle down and have children.

David- David was the guy Elizabeth fell in love with as she was taking her leave of her marriage through this ugly, complicated divorce with her husband.  He is a young man, born a New Yorker, an actor and writer, with brown Italian eyes.  David is street-smart, independent, vegetarian, foulmouthed, spiritual, seductive and a rebel poet-Yodi from Yonkers.  After one day seeing this picture of a beautiful Indian girl at his house, she couldn’t help but ask who she ways.  David explains to Elizabeth that she is his Guru and this leads Elizabeth to begin following her and her teachings.  Also, influences her to go to India for prayer.

Italy

Giovanni- He is shy, serious, and studious man that also has a twin named Dario.  Giovanni is her Tandem Exchange Partner (Giovanni is looking for a native English speaker for conversational language practice since he speaks Italian).  It usually takes him awhile to get jokes in a second language.  Throughout Elizabeth’s time in Italy she has a crush on him, but as time develops so does her feelings for him as they begin to diminish.  Its better off that they are friends for Elizabeth realizes it can go no farther.

Sofie - Elizabeth’s best friend from language class.  Sofie is Swedish and in her late twenties.  She keeps Elizabeth company while in Italy.

Luca Spagetti- Elizabeth’s new best friend in Italy that speaks perfect English and is an Italian tax accountant.  Luca is in his early thirties and he doesn’t like American food.  He helps Elizabeth understand Italy and gives her advice throughout her stay in Italy.

Catherine (Sister) - Elizabeth’s sister who is three years older than her and is an athlete, scholar, mother and writer.   She’s like a bookworm and a nerd that loves to recall any moment that she has knowledge or interest of.  Catherine nudges Elizabeth’s attention away from David after the break up.

Linda – Elizabeth’s favorite traveling companion or as she would call her, a codega – bringing you confidence and protection with their guidance through the dark streets.  Elizabeth considers her an unflappable and entertaining and surprisingly organized little pixie in tight red crushed-velvet pants, dreadlocks and piercings. Linda is the owner of one of the world’s more intact psyches.  She has incomprehension for depression and has a high self-esteem.  Linda has this ability to stop Elizabeth right there when she starts fretting over metaphysical questions.  She joins Elizabeth as her traveling companion through Venice in order to keep Elizabeth company as she passes through the most romantic city on earth by herself.

                                                                    India

Guru-Her Indian parents were amongst Swamiji’s earliest followers.  She even became his successor in 1982, while in her twenties. As a feminine, multilingual, university-educated and savvy professional woman she is as reassuring in her propriety.  Along with an Ashram in India as a place for people to still practice what she teaches her followers, she travels around the world influencing others and making known her teachings. She helps guide Elizabeth through her spiritual, self-seeking journey.

Swamiji- Swamiji is Sanskrit for “beloved monk”.  He is her Guru’s own master that has a great charismatic yogi and who died in 1982. He was a stickler for silence in the Ashram.  Elizabeth has only seen pictures of this Indian man throughout the Ashram and at firsts finds him to be a wild card; a little too scary, a little too powerful, and a little too much on fire for her taste in which he seemed overwhelming. But after having moments with him during meditation he would laugh at Elizabeth’s answers after asking her a question.  Not to be harsh or rude, but the truth. This occurrence would only motivate Elizabeth to take action and show Swamiji what she’s capable of.

Richard from Texas- Has white hair and a white beard, wide shoulders, giant hands and has had a variety jobs that are not really along the lines of a career path.  He helps Elizabeth out with her mediation in India and how to focus.  When meditating, one can discover ones self and has helped Elizabeth choose her thoughts since she’s distracted by them.  Richard suggests that she just gives her mind something else to divert its attention…love, pure divine love.  And with patience and persistence, Elizabeth grasps the control of her thoughts and begins to go deeper into her meditation and prayer.

Delia - Her roommate in Ashram and is a mother of five from Australia.  Delia in her own way gives Elizabeth the impression that the she can conquer meditation of the Gurugita, not even knowingly or intentionally.

Nick- Nick is an eight-year-old boy who is Elizabeth’s nephew.  He is skinny for his age, scarily smart, frighteningly astute, sensitive and complex.  Nick had received Elizabeth’s prayers to God, and in return helped her establish a truer divine mediation within oneself.

Plumber/poet from New Zealand – Wrote poems and had guided Elizabeth through moving on from her ex-husband and not to wait for that moment of forgiveness from him.

Indonesia

Mario – Elizabeth’s new Italian-Indonesian friend.  Mario’s real name is Nyoman and he changed it to Mario because he loves everything Italian.  He’s small, muscular and an energetic Balinese fellow.  He’s the first friend she makes right away when she first arrives at the hotel on

Money Forest Road

.  Elizabeth takes up Mario on his offering of going to look for a bicycle so that she can travel around with some ease and speed.  Most importantly he takes her to see Ketut Liyer at his house.

Ketut Liyer –His hobby is being medicine man.  Was once married, till she passed away and hasn’t remarried since.  Never really discloses his real age to Elizabeth because honestly, he doesn’t even really remember.  He always has a warm welcoming mostly toothless smile and with what Elizabeth describes as “his face is a comprehensive encyclopedia of kindness” (220).  Since there are many ways to find God he teaches Elizabeth one of many of the easiest meditations: sit in silence and smile.  Along the way she helps to try and teach Ketut Liyer some English words (or western-style language).  He guides Elizabeth through her time in Indonesia with advice, his wisdom and shows her what being a medicine man is about.

Yudi – Rented Elizabeth a house to her.  He’s twenty-seven year old Indonesian, originally from Java, with a stocky build and talks kind of like a southern California surfer.  For somebody who is so young he has a long, complicated life story, but he’s also got a smile that could stop crime.  With Yudi as Elizabeth’s friend, they like to share about a lot of things.  He’s more American than anything else and they use the same slang, talk about their favorite restraints in New York and like all the same movies.  Yudi also has this most amazing talent of playing music on the guitar and Elizabeth believes he could become famous some day.  That’s how good he is.

Wayan – Wayan is a Balinese healer, like Ketut Liyer.  She’s in her mid-thirties, with a wide smile and black hair down to her waist and a hands-on doctor.  Wayan owns a little storefront shop in the center of Ubud called “Traditional Balinese Healing Center.”  This is where she will usually mix herbs and medications in her own shop and take care of her patients right there on the premise.  She has a daughter named Tutti and divorced her husband after being physically abused.  Wayan even adopted two other little girls who were given the nicknames Big Ketut and Little Ketut since they have the same names.  Wayan helps Elizabeth with her prayers for Elizabeth to seek romance, even advice and helps give her medical treatment when needed.

Felipe – He’s fifty-two years old, has silver hair, warm brown eyes and has a gentle face and smells wonderful according to Elizabeth.  He’s from Brazil and not only becomes a close friend of Elizabeth’s, but also someone whom she falls in love with.  Felipe was faithfully married for almost twenty years before his marriage deteriorated and they were divorced.  During that time of marriage he has raised and tended to his children, while his Australian wife pursued her career.

Armenia – Brazilian friend of Elizabeth introduced by Wayan.  She invited Elizabeth to this party and this was where she met her Indonesian lover.  All thanks to Armenia’s invitation to this party.