The Castle · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Castle by Franz Kafka.
K.
major
Also known as K, Josef K., Land Surveyor, X K.
The protagonist, a land surveyor who arrives at the village and struggles to access the Castle.
Frieda
major
Also known as Fräulein Frieda, Freida
A barmaid at the Herrenhof who becomes K.'s lover and later his fiancée.
Klamm
major
Also known as Herr Klamm
A high-ranking Castle official whom K. desperately tries to contact.
Barnabas
supporting
Also known as the Barnabas
A young messenger from the Castle who delivers letters to K.
Olga
supporting
Barnabas's sister who helps K. understand the family's troubled history with the Castle.
Amalia
supporting
Olga's sister whose refusal of a Castle official's summons brought disgrace on her family.
Jeremiah
supporting
One of K.'s former assistants, later a rival for Frieda's affections.
Brunswick
minor
Also known as Hans Brunswick
A village shoemaker and father of Hans, who becomes involved with K.
Sortini
minor
A Castle official whose offensive letter to Amalia triggered the family's downfall.
Pepi
minor
A young chambermaid at the Herrenhof who briefly replaces Frieda.
Schwarzer
minor
Also known as this Schwarzer
A Castle official's son who first questions K.'s arrival at the village.
Momus
minor
Also known as Herr Momus
A Castle secretary who conducts a village records interview with K.
Father
minor
K.'s father, briefly mentioned in his memories and reflections.
Sordini
minor
A meticulous Castle official who reviews paperwork from the village.
Seemann
minor
A village man who appears briefly in the narrative.
Gerstäcker
minor
A village innkeeper who provides lodging to K.
Fräulein Gisa
minor
Also known as Gisa
A schoolteacher who interacts with K. during his time at the school.
Mizzi
minor
The wife of the village mayor, present during K.'s meeting with him.
Arthur
minor
One of K.'s two assistants, later dismissed.
Galater
minor
A Castle official mentioned in passing.
Lasemann
minor
Also known as the tanner Lasemann
A village tanner in whose house K. first rests upon arrival.
Erlanger
minor
A Castle official who summons Frieda for an interview.
Bertuch
minor
A village man who appears briefly in the story.
Gardana
minor
A female character mentioned in the narrative.
Herr Fritz
minor
Also known as Fritz
A village man who appears briefly.
Mr. Teacher
minor
A schoolteacher who interacts with K. at the village school.
Hans
minor
Brunswick's young son who befriends K. and delivers a message.
