François Cassar
François is the patriarch of the Cassar family and is portrayed as an introspective and complicated figure. As the son of a French colonialist, he is caught between his father’s fervent belief in being a French gentleman and his dissatisfaction with the expectations imposed on him. His life is marked by a persistent desire to escape the rigidity of colonial French ideals. François’s internal struggle with self and heritage is embodied in his ambivalence toward his father and the failed legacy of his family’s ventures in Algeria. His journey spanning multiple countries involves seeking personal meaning in a world filled with historical and familial weight.
François's relationship with his family, especially his wife, Barbara, is complex. There are moments of tenderness and shared grief around the disintegration of the old colonial world they knew. His relationship with Chloe reminds him of his lost youth and the pressure to uphold familial values.
Barbara Cassar
Barbara is François’s Wife and she represents a quiet strength in the novel. Throughout the family’s trials, she stands as a stabilizing force even though her character reveals an ongoing battle with self-doubt. As François’s partner, she is a witness to his internal conflict but also brings her complexities into the relationship. Barbara is portrayed as loving and devoted acting as a mediator in the family’s turbulent emotional landscape. However, beneath this calm exterior lies a woman deeply affected by the loss of her aspirations.
Her character evolves from one of quiet resignation to a woman searching for her identity amidst her family’s disintegration. Barbara struggles with the memory of her younger self. For instance, her reflections on the life she envisioned versus the life she led.
Chloe Cassar
Chloe is François and Barbara’s Daughter. She is depicted as a curious and independent young woman who has inherited the intellectual curiosity of her father. Her relationship with her parents is strained by the weight of generational expectations and the disillusionment that comes from being a child of a declining colonial legacy. Chloe represents the bridge between the old and the new world. As such, she navigates the expectations of her parents while trying to carve out her identity.
Her physical appearance and development through puberty are described in a way that reflects the family’s preoccupation with outward appearances. Chloe’s relationship with Oliver also shows her desire to escape the heavy historical baggage of her family. She struggles to define love and freedom in a world still shaped by the choices of her parents and grandparents.
Denise Cassar
Denise is François’s Sister and a deeply conflicted character. Much of her life has been spent in the shadow of her father’s expectations and the legacy of her family. As the sister of François, she inherits many of the same struggles. Denise's narrative revolves around her care for her aging father, which places her in a maternal role within the family. She is both protective and resentful of this role. In that, she feels a sense of duty but also a deep frustration at the limitations it imposes on her life.
Her relationship with her father is complex, marked by a blend of reverence and a desire for autonomy. Denise is a character who reflects the generational toll of colonialism, duty, and familial obligation.
