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The Narrator

This is the novel's central figure, its protagonist, and is generally regarded as a thinly disguised self-portrait of the author.

Anatole France, Franz Kafka

The writings of these two authors supply the quotes that introduce the book and, in the case of the quote from one, its title.

Maria

The narrator first encounters this eccentric and bohemian person on one of his trips to the art school across the road from his conservative prep school.

Paul

He is another of the students at the art school, viewed by both staff and fellow students as a genius.

Ivan

This free-spirited and open-hearted person is yet another student at the art school with less influence on the narrator.

Betts and Buddy

This pair of elderly lesbians is the first long-term homosexual couple the narrator encounters.

Tex, Morris, Lester

During his first year of college, in the midst of...

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