Martin Guerre
Martin Guerre is the main character of the book, and was a real life peasant in France during the 1500's. Guerre was a peasant, so didn't have much money to his name. Still, he was a man, which was beneficial in a heavily patriarchal society. He gets forced to marry a wife, and, eventually, they have a baby. After stealing grain from his father, Guerre runs away and leaves his family. He doesn't return for another eight years. Guerre, who has a wooden leg, is replaced by an imposter claiming to be him. This imposter is after his family and wealth, but is unsuccessful in proving that he is the real Martin Guerre when the real Martin Guerre, now returning, comes in the courthouse and proves himself to be himself.
Bertrande de-Rols
Bertrande is another one of the main characters of the book, and is the young wife of Martin Guerre. Bertrande has close relations with the rest of Martin's family, of which her family and his family are friends, but isn't very close to Martin. This is proven when Martin runs away from her without a word, leaving her to care for her house and baby. After Arnaud, the Martin imposter, clashes with Bertrande's uncle, Bertrande questions whether or not her husband has returned.
Arnaud du Tilh
With a typical French name, Arnaud du Tilh is an imposter that tries to claim that he is the real Martin Guerre. After getting in a small duel with the uncle of Martin's wife, Bertrande, Arnaud takes himself to court to prove that he is the real Martin Guerre. Despite the fact that he doesn't look that much like Martin, half of the witnesses on the jury claim that he is, indeed, Martin Guerre. When the real Martin Guerre arrives on the scene, Arnaud apologizes to him for any inconveniences he may have caused.
