Hana

In the novel The English Patient, Hana is the protagonist, the leading character, the person the reader follows the development of, and the heroine. She grows the most over the 16 years that span during the novel. Starting out as an 18 year old, Hana is saving war victims as a nurse, forced to grow up faster than an average 18 year old should have to. Cutting off all of her hair, Hana gives herself a new look, a new person, and a new life. From there she goes on to move into the villa with the English Patient, taking care of him for the next 3 to 4 years. Maturing past her years, Hana is the keeper of this man, who was burnt to a crisp in an accident. She devotes the remainder of her time to a man who she does not know much about, and cares for him like she would a family member. Together they uncover one another’s past and history, growing from her experiences and the people that come into their lives. While many other characters enter the novel, Hana is the only one who stays from the very beginning, page one, to the very end, page 302. She is and becomes a part of everyone else’s story, and affects them all differently. With out the protagonist, a story would go nowhere, and would not develop. With out Hana’s character, there would be no story.