Main Characters in Kindertransport
Diane Samuels uses a small group of characters to explore separation, identity, memory and family. Eva/Evelyn stands at the centre of the play, while Helga, Lil and Faith represent different generations of mothers and daughters. The Ratcatcher gives visible form to the fear that follows Eva into adulthood. Understanding each character’s role will help you answer questions about character, relationships and themes. For exam practice, use collection of Kindertransport past exam questions.
Eva and Evelyn
Eva and Evelyn are the same person at different stages of life. Samuels places them alongside each other on stage, allowing the audience to see how Eva’s childhood experiences continue to shape Evelyn.
Eva as a child
Eva is nine years old when her parents send her from Hamburg to England. She is intelligent, observant and determined. She tries to remain brave during the journey and works hard to bring her parents to Britain. After arriving in Manchester, Eva writes letters, looks for possible jobs for her parents and tries to adapt to life with Lil. Her actions show loyalty to her family and a growing sense of responsibility. Eva also feels frightened and abandoned. She struggles with a new language, unfamiliar customs and the uncertainty surrounding her parents.
Her question: “What good me to be safe?” captures the emotional difficulty of her situation. Safety has separated her from the people she loves.
Evelyn as an adult
As Eva grows older, she becomes Evelyn. She adopts an English name, loses much of her German and builds a life in Britain.
Adult Evelyn appears controlled and practical. She keeps her childhood papers in the attic and avoids discussing them with Faith. Her need for order and control reflects her desire to contain painful memories.
Faith’s discovery places Evelyn under emotional pressure. Her reactions include anger, panic and withdrawal. These moments reveal how strongly the past continues to affect her. Near the end of the play, Evelyn asks Faith to: “Stay my little girl forever.” This quote connects her fear of losing Faith as she leaves home with her own childhood separation.
Why Eva/Evelyn matters in the exam
Questions may focus on:
- Eva as a child
- Evelyn as an adult
- Eva’s development
- identity and adaptation
- separation and survival
- memory and repression
- Evelyn as a mother
When writing about Eva/Evelyn, use moments from childhood and adulthood. The contrast between the two stages helps you show development across the whole play.
Read Main Themes in Kindertransport for further discussion of identity, belonging, memory and survival.
Helga
Helga is Eva’s birth mother. She sends Eva to England because Jewish families face increasing danger in Nazi Germany.
At the beginning of the play, Helga appears practical, disciplined and loving. She teaches Eva to sew, checks her suitcase and hides jewellery inside her shoes. These actions prepare Eva for the journey and preserve a connection with her family.
When Eva asks whether her parents can protect her, Helga replies: “Only by sending you away.” Her responses expresses the painful paradox of her decision. Helga believes separation offers Eva the best chance of survival. Helga also expects the family to reunite. She promises that she and Werner will follow once the necessary permits arrive. Her confidence gives Eva hope during the early part of the play.
After the war, Helga returns and wants Evelyn to travel with her to New York. She expects them to rebuild their lives together. Evelyn has developed a new identity and considers England her home. Their reunion reveals the lasting effects of their years apart.
Why Helga matters in the exam
Questions may focus on:
- Helga’s intentions
- motherhood
- protection and responsibility
- separation
- survival
- her relationship with Eva/Evelyn
- comparison with Lil
A developed answer needs to consider Helga at the beginning and end of the play. Her choices are influenced by danger, love for her daughter and her own experience of survival.
Lil
Lil Miller is Eva’s foster mother in England. She is practical, direct and warm. Her informal speech and sense of humour help establish her working-class Manchester background. Lil collects Eva from the station, gives her food and offers her a home. She also helps Eva write letters and search for ways to bring Helga and Werner to Britain.
When Eva is frightened about her parents, Lil tells her: “Just be glad you’re safe.” Lil does her best to ensure that Eva is well taken care of. Even as Eva remains focused on reunion with her parents, Lil supports and helps her.
Over time, Lil becomes a permanent mother figure. She supports Eva through childhood, wartime evacuation and the news from Germany. She later adopts her. Lil also helps keep Evelyn’s past hidden from Faith. She understands Evelyn’s distress and tries to protect her, though this leaves Faith without important knowledge about her family.
Why Lil matters in the exam
Questions may focus on:
- Lil as a mother
- her importance in Eva’s life
- her relationship with Helga
- her relationship with Faith
- protection and care
- cultural adaptation
- sympathy and respect
Lil can be compared with Helga because both women make choices that shape Eva’s life. The Key Relationships in Kindertransport article will explore these connections further.
Faith
Faith is Evelyn’s twenty-year-old daughter. She is preparing to leave home when she discovers letters, photographs and objects in the attic. Her curiosity drives the present-day action. She asks Lil about Eva and gradually realises that Eva is her mother. The discovery changes her understanding of her family and her own identity.
Faith becomes angry when Evelyn refuses to explain the past. She feels that important information has been withheld from her. Her questions force Evelyn to explain her childhood and about Helga, Werner and the Kindertransport. Faith can be demanding during their arguments, but her persistence also brings the family history into the open.
At the end of the play, Faith says: “I’m going to find out everything I can.” She plans to contact relatives and learn more about her background. Her decision suggests that the family’s history will continue into the next generation.
Why Faith matters in the exam
Questions may focus on:
- Faith as a daughter
- her development
- her differences from Evelyn
- her relationship with Lil
- her search for truth
- family identity
- the effects of secrecy
Faith develops from someone preparing to leave home to someone determined to find out where she comes from. Her character helps Samuels explore inherited memory and the effect of trauma on later generations.
The Ratcatcher
The Ratcatcher is a symbolic character drawn from Eva’s German storybook, Der Rattenfänger. He appears throughout the play and becomes connected with Eva and Evelyn’s fears. He first represents the threatening figure who takes children away from their families. This reflects Eva’s departure on the Kindertransport.
During the train journey, the Ratcatcher becomes associated with the Nazi border official. Later, he appears when Eva fears another separation during wartime evacuation. The Ratcatcher declares: “I will take the heart of your happiness away.” His words connect him with the destruction of family life and childhood security.
When Helga visits England, Evelyn begins to see her mother as another Ratcatcher who may take her away from England and Lil. The final shadow across the stage shows that fear remains part of Evelyn’s adult life.
Why the Ratcatcher matters in the exam
- The Ratcatcher may appear in questions about:
- fear
- symbolism
- separation
- guilt
- memory
- Helga
- dramatic methods
- the ending
Read Symbolism in Kindertransport: The Ratcatcher, the Attic and Important Objects for a more complete explanation of his role.
Other characters to remember
Several minor characters contribute to Eva’s journey:
- Werner Schlesinger is Eva’s father. He remains offstage, and his absence increases the sense of loss surrounding Eva’s family.
- The Nazi Officer searches Eva’s case and frightens her at the border. He represents state power and persecution.
- The Organiser struggles to communicate with Eva when she arrives in England. The scene emphasises her vulnerability and isolation.
- The Postman brings Eva a parcel from Helga. His joking imitation of a Nazi salute reveals a gap between his understanding of Germany and Eva’s experience.
- The Guard questions Eva at Manchester station and treats her with suspicion during wartime.
These characters can support questions about authority, cultural misunderstanding, fear and Eva’s experiences with male figures.
How Samuels presents character
When writing about a character, consider:
- what they say
- how they speak
- their actions on stage
- their relationships
- the objects connected with them
- how they change
- where they appear in the structure
- how the audience may respond
For example:
Samuels presents Evelyn as emotionally guarded through her controlled speech and her attempts to leave the attic. Her physical withdrawal from Faith reflects her wish to avoid the memories contained in the room.
This combines character understanding with analysis of dramatic method.
Quick character revision
Before answering a character question, make sure you can identify:
- the character’s role in the story
- two or three important traits
- how the character develops
- their main relationships
- themes connected with them
- two useful quotations
- one dramatic method used to present them
Use Essential Quotes from Kindertransport for Edexcel IGCSE to build your evidence bank. The guide to How to Write a Strong Kindertransport Essay for Edexcel IGCSE explains how to develop character analysis into a focused response.
