In Search of Lost Time · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.
Marcel
major
Also known as Unknown, myself, me
The narrator and protagonist, a sensitive young man obsessed with memory, love, and art.
Albertine Simonet
major
Also known as Esther, Albertine, the little Simonet, Simonet, Mademoiselle Albertine
A captivating young woman who becomes the narrator's obsessive love interest and captive.
Charles Swann
major
Also known as M. Swann, poor old Swann, M. Charles Swann
A refined art connoisseur and friend of the narrator's family, whose love affair precedes the main narrative.
Odette de Crécy
major
Also known as Odette, de Crécy, de Forcheville, Mme. Swann
A beautiful courtesan who marries Swann and later becomes a prominent society hostess.
Baron de Charlus
major
Also known as M. de Charlus, Charlus, Palamède, Mémé
An aristocratic, flamboyant, and complex figure with hidden desires and a sharp wit.
Robert de Saint-Loup
major
Also known as Saint-Loup, Robert, Loup, Marquis de Saint-Loup
The narrator's close friend, a dashing young aristocrat and military officer.
Gilberte Swann
supporting
Also known as Gilberte, Swann, Mlle. Swann, Gilberte Swann
Swann and Odette's daughter, the narrator's first childhood crush and later acquaintance.
Madame Verdurin
supporting
Also known as Mme. Verdurin, Verdurin, the Verdurin
The domineering and snobbish patroness of a fashionable artistic salon.
Françoise
supporting
Also known as Mme. Françoise
The narrator's loyal, superstitious, and opinionated family cook and housekeeper.
Charles Morel
supporting
Also known as Morel, Charlie, young Morel
A talented but manipulative violinist, protégé of the Baron de Charlus.
Duchesse de Guermantes
supporting
Also known as Oriane, Mme. de Guermantes, the Duchesse de Guermantes
A brilliant and beautiful aristocrat, the object of the narrator's social ambition.
Marcel's Mother
supporting
Also known as Mamma
The narrator's loving and gentle mother, a central figure of his childhood.
Marcel's Grandmother
supporting
Also known as Grandmamma
The narrator's wise and affectionate grandmother, who adores him deeply.
Bloch
supporting
Also known as M. Bloch, young Bloch, this Bloch
The narrator's schoolfriend, a pretentious and intellectual Jewish boy.
Bergotte
supporting
Also known as young Bergotte, M. Bergotte, the true Bergotte
A celebrated writer whose style the narrator deeply admires and analyzes.
Elstir
supporting
Also known as M. Elstir, Madame Elstir
A great impressionist painter who befriends the narrator at Balbec.
Vinteuil
supporting
Also known as M. Vinteuil, poor M. Vinteuil, Papa Vinteuil
A reclusive composer whose posthumously discovered sonata becomes a leitmotif.
Andrée
supporting
Also known as Andrée
A friend of Albertine and member of the 'little band' of girls at Balbec.
Marquise de Villeparisis
supporting
Also known as Mme. de Villeparisis, de Villeparisis, Balbec
An elderly, cultured aristocrat and aunt of the Duc de Guermantes.
Marquis de Norpois
supporting
Also known as M. de Norpois, Norpois, old Norpois
A retired diplomat and friend of the narrator's father, a pompous figure.
Jupien
supporting
Also known as M. Jupien, Jupien
A tailor and later the narrator's neighbor, who has a secret relationship with Charlus.
Legrandin
supporting
Also known as M. Legrandin, Legrandin
A snobbish engineer and aspiring writer, uncle of the Cambremer family.
Marquis de Cambremer
minor
Also known as M. de Cambremer, Cambremer, the young Mme. de Cambremer
A provincial aristocrat and neighbor of the narrator's family in Combray.
Marquise de Cambremer
minor
Also known as Mme. de Cambremer, the young Mme. de Cambremer, Legrandin
The snobbish wife of the Marquis de Cambremer, born Legrandin.
Duc de Guermantes
supporting
Also known as Basin, M. de Guermantes, the Duc de Guermantes
The husband of Oriane, a proud and traditional aristocrat.
Princesse de Guermantes
minor
Also known as the Princesse de Guermantes, de Guermantes
A more exclusive and mysterious member of the Guermantes family.
M. de Vaugoubert
minor
Also known as Vaugoubert, de Vaugoubert
A diplomat and closeted homosexual, an acquaintance of Charlus.
Saniette
minor
Also known as M. Saniette
A timid, impoverished archivist and frequent target of the Verdurins' mockery.
Doctor Cottard
supporting
Also known as Cottard, Dr. Cottard, Professor Cottard
A pedantic but successful doctor, a loyal member of the Verdurin salon.
Madame Cottard
minor
Also known as Mme. Cottard
The doctor's kind but somewhat simple wife, also in the Verdurin circle.
Berma
minor
Also known as Mme. Berma
A famous tragic actress, admired by the narrator.
Rachel
minor
Also known as This Rachel
A former prostitute who becomes Saint-Loup's mistress and a mediocre actress.
M. de Bréauté
minor
Also known as Bréauté, M. de Bréauté-Consalvi
A witty and learned aristocrat, a fixture in Faubourg Saint-Germain society.
Princesse de Parme
minor
Also known as the Princesse de Parme, de Parme
A kindly, high-ranking royal figure who hosts grand social events.
Comte de Forcheville
minor
Also known as Forcheville, M. de Forcheville
Odette's second husband, a social climber and anti-Semite.
Mme. de Marsantes
minor
Also known as Mme. de Marsantes, Marsantes
Saint-Loup's mother, a kind and elegant Guermantes relation.
Mme. de Saint-Euverte
minor
Also known as de Saint-Euverte, old Saint-Euverte
A society hostess who gives a famous party attended by Swann.
Eulalie
minor
Also known as Eulalie
A pious old woman who visits the narrator's aunt Léonie in Combray.
Aunt Léonie
minor
Also known as Léonie, aunt Léonie
The narrator's hypochondriac aunt who lives in Combray.
M. Nissim Bernard
minor
Also known as Nissim Bernard, Bernard, M. Bernard
An elderly Jewish uncle of Bloch, a regular at the Balbec hotel.
Ski
minor
Also known as Ski
A sculptor and member of the Verdurin circle, known for his eccentricity.
Mme. de Stermaria
minor
Also known as Mme. de Stermaria, de Stermaria, Stermaria
A beautiful, aloof Breton woman the narrator briefly courts.
Mme. de Surgis
minor
Also known as Mme. de Surgis, de Surgis, Surgis
A mistress of the Duc de Guermantes, mother of two sons.
Princesse de Gallardon
minor
Also known as de Gallardon, Gallardon
A snobbish Guermantes relation who feels slighted by Oriane.
Mme. Sazerat
minor
Also known as Sazerat, Mme. Sazerat
A neighbor in Combray, known for her modest social standing.
M. de Vauvenargues
minor
Also known as Vauvenargues
A friend of the narrator's grandfather, mentioned in Combray.
Mme. de Guermantes-Bavière
minor
Also known as Mme. de Guermantes-Bavière
A German-born relative of the Guermantes family.
Duc de Châtellerault
minor
Also known as Châtellerault, the Duc de Châtellerault
A young, handsome aristocrat and friend of Saint-Loup.
General de Froberville
minor
Also known as de Froberville, Froberville
A military man and guest at Guermantes social functions.
Mme. de Vaugoubert
minor
Also known as Mme. de Vaugoubert
The wife of the diplomat Vaugoubert, aware of her husband's nature.
Prince de Guermantes
minor
Also known as the Prince de Guermantes, de Guermantes
The head of the Guermantes family, a devout Catholic and anti-Dreyfusard.
Princesse de Guermantes (Marie-Gilbert)
minor
Also known as Marie-Gilbert, the Princesse de Guermantes
The wife of Prince de Guermantes, a beautiful and pious woman.
Princesse de Luxembourg
minor
Also known as the Princesse de Luxembourg, de Luxembourg
A royal figure who befriends the narrator's grandmother at Balbec.
Mlle. de Stermaria
minor
Also known as Mlle. de Stermaria
The daughter of Mme. de Stermaria, a potential love interest.
Duchesse de Guermantes (Oriane)
supporting
Also known as Oriane, the Duchesse de Guermantes
The brilliant and witty wife of the Duc de Guermantes.
Duc de Guermantes (Basin)
supporting
Also known as Basin, the Duc de Guermantes
The proud and traditional husband of Oriane de Guermantes.
Baron de Guermantes
minor
Also known as the Baron de Guermantes
A lesser-known member of the Guermantes family.
Vicomtesse de Guermantes
minor
Also known as the Vicomtesse de Guermantes
A relative of the Guermantes, known for her piety.
Marquise de Guermantes
minor
Also known as la Marquise de Guermantes
An elderly member of the Guermantes family.
Princesse des Laumes
minor
Also known as the Princesse des Laumes, des Laumes
The earlier title of Oriane de Guermantes before her marriage.
Prince des Laumes
minor
Also known as the Prince des Laumes
The earlier title of Basin de Guermantes.
Duchesse de Mortemart
minor
Also known as de Mortemart, the old Duchesse de Mortemart née Guermantes
An elderly Guermantes duchess, mother of the current duke.
Duchesse de Guise
minor
Also known as Guise, the Duchesse de Guise
A royal duchess related to the Guermantes.
Duchesse de Montmorency
minor
Also known as de Montmorency, the Duchesse de Montmorency-Luxembourg
A duchess related to the Guermantes by marriage.
Duchesse de Doudeauville
minor
Also known as Doudeauville, de Doudeauville
A duchess who appears in the Guermantes social circle.
Duchesse de Praslin
minor
Also known as Duchesse de Praslin
A duchess mentioned in the Guermantes salon.
Duchesse de Vendôme
minor
Also known as Vendôme, the Duchesse de Vendôme
A royal duchess who appears in the Guermantes circle.
Duc d'Aumale
minor
Also known as the Duc d'Aumale
A royal duke mentioned in the Guermantes context.
Duc de Chartres
minor
Also known as Chartres, the Duc de Chartres
A royal duke who appears in the Guermantes circle.
Duc de Broglie
minor
Also known as de Broglie, the Duc de Broglie
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes social world.
Duc de La Rochefoucauld
minor
Also known as La Rochefoucauld, de La Rochefoucauld
A duke who appears in the Guermantes salon.
Duc de Luxembourg
minor
Also known as de Luxembourg, the Duc de Luxembourg
A duke who appears in the Guermantes circle.
Duc de Guastalla
minor
Also known as the Duc de Guastalla
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes context.
Duc de Brabant
minor
Also known as a Brabant, Duc de Brabant
A royal duke mentioned in the Guermantes circle.
Duc d'Orléans
minor
Also known as Duc d'Orléans
A royal duke mentioned in the Guermantes context.
Duc de Montmorency
minor
Also known as de Montmorency, the Duc de Montmorency
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes social world.
Duc de Bouillon
minor
Also known as the Duc de Bouillon
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes circle.
Duc de Chevreuse
minor
Also known as de Chevreuse
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes context.
Duc de Luynes
minor
Also known as de Luynes, Luynes
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes social world.
Duc d'Uzès
minor
Also known as Duc d'Uzès
A duke mentioned in the Guermantes circle.
