Character Relationship Map: Poison

Characters

• Harry Pope (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) — protagonist

  Harry Pope is the terrified man at the center of the ordeal, lying awake and sweating while claiming that a krait is asleep beneath the sheet on his stomach. He remains still through the injection and...

• Supervisor Woods (played by Dev Patel) — protagonist

  Supervisor Woods is the supervisor who returns to the bungalow and discovers Harry Pope in distress. He quietly fetches a knife, calls Dr. Ganderbai, obtains chloroform, and assists with the dangerous...

• Dr. Ganderbai (played by Ben Kingsley) — supporting

  Dr. Ganderbai is the doctor who arrives with serum to protect Harry Pope from a possible krait bite. He carefully gives the injection, directs the chloroform procedure, and searches Harry and the bed...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Dr. Ganderbai → Harry Pope (Professional Doctor And Patient In Conflict) — Ganderbai treats Harry cautiously during the apparent emergency, but his attempt to reassure Harry is taken as an accusation of lying and leaves their interaction hostile.

  Dr. Ganderbai brings serum, injects Harry, directs the chloroform procedure, and searches for the snake. Harry angrily insults him after the doctor su...

• Supervisor Woods → Harry Pope (Professional Supportive Supervisor) — Woods supports Harry through the suspected snake emergency and repeatedly tries to stop him from insulting the doctor afterward.

  Woods finds Harry in distress, fetches a knife, calls Dr. Ganderbai, obtains chloroform, and assists with the search.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Supervisor Woods → Dr. Ganderbai (Alliance Emergency Collaborators) — Woods assists Ganderbai's careful plan to protect Harry and determine whether the krait is present.

  Woods calls Ganderbai for help, obtains chloroform, and works with him to expose and search Harry's body and clothing.

Story Analysis

A suspected krait beneath Harry's sheet drives a tense rescue that ends with the apparent danger gone but distrust and anger unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. A Warning Beneath the Sheet — Woods finds Harry in distress, and Harry says a krait is resting on his stomach. Woods fetches a knife and calls Ganderbai for help.
2. The Careful Medical Plan — Ganderbai arrives with serum, injects Harry, and warns him to remain still. He and Woods arrange to use chloroform beneath the sheet.
3. A Search Beneath the Sheet — The chloroform procedure proceeds slowly as Harry struggles to stay still. Ganderbai and Woods eventually inspect Harry and find no snake.
4. Relief Turns to Resentment — Harry jumps and shakes his legs, then realizes the snake is gone or may never have been there. He interprets Ganderbai's gentle suggestion as an accusation and insults him, while Woods tries to stop t...