As the protagonist and narrator of the novel, Jasmine views each “life” she has lived through the nickname she was given by a loved one at the time. Each stage of her life is a reflection of her journey as a person, as a woman, as an Indian, and as a spiritual being.

Told in a non-linear, non-chronological fashion, Jasmine’s story and personal growth take her from the restrictive cultural and religious Indian culture, to the underbelly of American illegal immigration, to New York City, to rural Iowa. In each adventure, she learns more about herself until she is finally able to find the experience that she has waited for her entire life. In achieving this dream, Jasmine also becomes the representation of the changing face of the American Dream.

Prakash is Jasmine’s husband, a modern, educated man whom she falls for before she ever sees his face. Prakash wants more than Indian society can provide him, and he thinks that America is the answer to his desires. He gives Jasmine her nickname and encourages her to be an educated, forward-thinking woman, helping her to reconsider the role her culture has played in her life. After planning to leave for America, Prakash and Jasmine are attacked in a sari shop by radical Indian terrorists, and Prakash dies during the bombing.