Doris
Doris is the only main character in the novel because the novel is basically her diary. She is eighteen years old, did not complete her education, and dreams of becoming a famous star. At the beginning of the story, Doris earns money from a simple job but later gets fired because her boss was harassing her. She then works as an extra in a theatre but goes to Berlin to run away from several crimes she has done. Then, throughout the story, Doris earns a living by meeting men and sleeping with them, but her job is not official; she is very beautiful and talented in attracting men. Doris is a very materialistic girl who is, although poor, cares very much about her style of clothing and her body shape and how that fits what is called pretty in her times. Although she dreams of becoming a star, she makes no real effort in looking for a job that helps her become one. By the end of the novel, Doris realizes and asks God to help her have an education so she can work and do something other than sleeping with strangers to please them. Doris was beautiful; she had many men and was very attractive, yet she was very lonely. She describes her life in a fast-paced way, jumping from one event to another without pausing her thoughts or introducing the new story she is going to write about. Her style of writing is very descriptive too, she sees things with a cinematic eye, and she said herself in the beginning that she is going to write a diary but more like a movie.
Therese
Therese is a minor character who was in her late thirties. She was the most trustworthy person Doris had, and Doris used to tell her everything about her life. Therese was in love with a man who was already married, but she was never strong enough to overcome this feeling of love and trying to find another man to love and marry. She remained lonely throughout the story, listening to Doris's stories about her men, while Therese though of nothing but the man she loved.
Ernst
Ernst is the last man Doris wrote about in her diary. He is the most one Doris loved genuinely, not just for his physique, but for his character. When he found her a job, she refused and was ready to clean the house and cook for him every day and earn money from that than to go and work. Ernst was married, but his wife did not like him very much and so they left each other, but he always talked about her to Doris. Although Doris loved him so much and wanted to stay with him forever, she realized how much he loved his wife and that he should return to her. Doris succeeds and goes to his wife's address and told her to go back to Ernst. He was very kind to Doris, and he treated her like a little child, which Doris sometimes loved and sometimes hated.
