Evariste Gamelin
Evariste Gamelin is the main character of the story. He lives in an old house in poverty with his mother. He is a painter who favors the French Revolution and the patriots, which is reflected in his paintings consisting of sketches of Liberties, Rights of Man, French Constitutions, Equality etc. However, his painting doesn't bring him much profit, because French art is not appreciated anymore outside France and this has caused him and many other painters to live in poverty or even emigrate to other countries. To get out of poverty he thinks about creating a "patriotic" pack of cards, where for the kings and queens and knaves of the old style he meant to substitute figures of Genius, of Liberty, of Equality and the like. This idea doesn't bring him fortune but still he doesn't give up.
Evariste is affectionate and compassionate for those who are poor, suffering from illness, in pain; he is tender-hearted for the unfortunate. He is reminded often from his mother about his good looks, but he doesn't really care about them. Evariste falls in love with Elodie, but has it difficult telling her about his feelings. He is very polite with her and fears that she doesn't feel the same for him. These thoughts turn out to be wrong because Elodie seduces him and make him tell about his love for her and from that day they become lovers.
Later he becomes a member of the Committee of Public Safety, where he has to judge whether those brought before the court are innocent or guilty. As time passes he becomes more ruthless, more monstrous, declaring the suspects guilty without a trial and having them guillotined. At the end of the book Evariste is arrested for being a follower of Roberspierre and is executed.
Elodie Blaise
Elodie Blaise works in a small shop with her father. She is neither very young nor very pretty. She is a brunette, with an olive complexion; her face is round with its prominent cheek-bones, laughing lips and rather broad nose. She is in love with Evariste, believing he possesses artistic genius that will make him very famous one day. She doesn't love him for being virtuous, albeit appreciating the advantage of not fearing rivals in his affections. Yet she finds his reserve a little overdone. However she thinks that in love the woman should advance first, and she does exactly that with Evariste. In many occasions she tries to push him to express his love for her, and finally succeeds in doing so when they meet again. As Evariste becomes more devoted to his job, their relationship begins to suffer. Still she doesn't want to break up from him, because she appreciates what he is doing for his country.
Rochemaure
Rochemaure is a distant friend of Evariste, who once had admired his good looks and youth and interesting air. She is described as wigged, painted, patched and scented. She visits Evariste house and the whole place is flooded with the splendour of her presence and the fragrance of her perfumes. She visits Evariste so he can arrange a meeting between her and Marat. While speaking with Evariste's mother, she promises her that she will find a good job for him.
Later she finds a job for Evariste as a magistrate, which he gladly accepts. Her reasons for doing this favour to him is that she wants someone in that position to aid her in the future, if she is suspected of doing things against The Republic. In fact she does things against the republic; she communicates with people outside France which is considered a crime. She is discovered by a letter stolen from her lover, Henry, and declared guilty. For this crime, she is executed.
Robespierre
Robespierre is a French revolutionary. He is the idol of the people, who often mention him as a man whom model they should follow. He is also a man jealous of his scrupulous honesty, full of suspicion, impossible to approach by those not in his close circle. He favors punishing and killing all of those who are a threat to the Republic and Evariste becomes one of his followers. He despises the atheists because he sees them as immoral people without hope. He is declared guilty and executed alongside his council at the end of the book.
