Frederic
Frederic is the protagonist of the novel, born in the rural French town of Nogent where his wealthy widowed mother resides. He is 18 when the novel begins and is studying to become a lawyer in Paris. Traveling by boat from Paris to Nogent, he first sees Madame Arnoux. He is immediately taken by the older women's beauty, and spends the remainder of the novel trying in vain to win her love. When his uncle dies and leaves him a large estate, Frederic abandons his pursuit of a law degree and intends to become a Parisian socialite.
Frederic is a very vain character. He is occupied with other's looks and social status, to a degree that he does not actually analyze their character. As a result, he is defrauded by several members of the aristocracy, including Arnaux and Dambreuse. He lacks any ambition, except for winning the love of Arnoux. He eventually has affairs with other women but these end in animosity and resentment. He fathered a child with Rosanette, though the child dies in infancy. He ends the novel alone, having never won Madame Arnoux's love.
Madame Marie Arnoux
Madame Arnoux is the husband of Monsieur Arnoux, a shifty and cunning businessman. She is a melancholic woman, who regrets her loyalty to her unfaithful husband. She is unable to act on her own volition and it instead follows the lead of her husband. She is charmed by Frederic and they begin a lengthy flirtation. Later, she uses this flirtation to gain a loan from Frederic, which she does not repay until years later. She is the devoted mother of two children. The novel ends as she moves to Britanny with her husband to escape their debts.
Deslauriers
Frederic's childhood friend, Deslauriers is an ambitious lawyer. He often implores Frederic to introduce him to members of the aristocracy so he can acquire a job. Although he criticizes the aristocracy, he also constantly demands money from Frederic and grows angry when Frederic does not provide. He is sometimes loyal to Frederic but ultimately does whatever is in his own bet interest. He marries Louise, who was originally supposed to marry Frederic, though she leaves him for a singer. He ends the novel with a string of unsuccessful careers.
Jacques Arnoux
Jacques Arnoux, husband of Marie, is a dishonest business man who engages in a variety of enterprises. Throughout the novel he owns an art magazine, a pottery company, and a religious items seller. He engages in numerous affairs, and constantly tries to swindle others out of money. He is able to secure 14,000 francs from Frederic, which he never repays. Finally, unable to escape his debts, he flees from Paris with his family.
Madame Dambreuse
Madame Dambreuse has an affair with Frederic in the novel's 3rd part. She is independently wealthy, though her husband alters her documents before his death, effectively leaving her broke. She is deeply religious, though very unsympathetic towards others. She is seen by Frederic as the epitome of the upper-class he desires to join. The two nearly marry, though his adoration of Madame Arnoux effectively ends their relationship.
Sénécal
Sénécal is a friend of Deslauriers. A committed Socialist and Communist, he consistently annoys Frederic with his rants. At the same time, he often demands money and help from Frederic, including jobs. He is eventually imprisoned during the Revolution.
Louise Roque
The daughter of a wealthy landowner from Roque, Louise was chosen as a potential wife for Frederic. When she was a child, Frederic doted on her and as a result she adores him. With curly red hair and a pale complexion, she is portrayed as unattractive. Frederic leads her on, believing they will get married, though she is distraught to discover that he intends to marry Madame Dambreuse. She resorts to marrying Deslauriers, though she leaves him for a singer.
Rosanette (The Marshall)
Rosanette is a complicated character. A beautiful woman, she is known to have many lovers, including Arnoux. These men pay for her living and shower her with gifts. When Frederic begins to court her, she is reluctant at first. Finally she agrees to be his mistress, and they spend many nights together. She becomes pregnant and has his child, though he dies in infancy. When she discovers that Frederic is in love with Madame Arnoux, she demands the repayment of money that Arnoux owes her, forcing them to move.
Regimbart
Known as the "Citizen," Regimbart is an alcoholic who spends his days in cafés around Paris. He has revolutionary ideals but he spends more time talking about them than acting on them. He is Frederic's second at his duel. He ends the novel as an old man, who still drinks heavily.
Pellerin
Another friend of Frederic's, Pellerin is an artist who believes himself to be better than he is. He admires High Art, but his own work is never accepted to the Salon. He and Frederic become more distant after he pays a portrait of Rosanette and is not paid. Regardless, he later paints a portrait of Frederic's dead son.
Dussardier
A cashier who engages in revolutionary politics, Dussardier is perhaps the most honorable character in the novel. He greatly admires Frederic, and feels indebted to him for saving him from prison at the beginning of the novel. As a result, he continually offers aid to Frederic, which Frederic abuses. At the novel's end, he is killed during a rebellion.
Hussonet
Hussonet is a distant friend of Frederic's. The two often spar and fight. He works as a journalist, and mocks Frederic with a disparaging article after his failed duel. He ends up becoming a very wealthy newspaper owner.
Martinon
Martinon is an opportunistic and driven lawyer. Unlike Frederic, he completes his law degree. He fights to marry the Dambreuses' niece, and in doing so inherits their vast fortune.
