Claude Lantier
Claude Lantier is the protagonist of the novel. He is a painter and seeks for new ways and techniques in painting. Claude is obsessed with his art, it both physically and mentally occupies all his essence. Claude is ambitious and eager to create, but trying to create a perfect picture he becomes insane, so not to become completely mad he commits suicide.
Dubuche
Dubuche is a friend of Sandoz and Claude. He is an architect, but he studies at the Acedamy, so his views on art start changing from those of Claude and Sandoz’s. Dubuche becomes a bourgeois and seeks for a benefit marriage. He finds such but it never makes him happy.
Pierre Sandos
Pierre is a writer, he is more close with Claude than Dubuche. Sandoz manages to succeed in life, his novels become popular and he earns good money.
Christine
Christine is a girl Claude meets accidentally, but this accident turned into something more. They fall in love, and had a son. In few years they got married, but this marriage turned to be a failure. Claude was absorbed by his art and Christine was incredibly jealous of it. They both, being obsessed by what they loved the most – Claude by his art, Christine by Claude, they neglected their son who later died because of lack of love and attention. After Claude’s death Christine becomes insane, but Claude’s friends never left her alone.
