# The Castle — Character guide

> Key figures in The Castle by Franz Kafka.

- [K.](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/k.md): The protagonist, a land surveyor who arrives at the village and struggles to access the Castle.
- [Frieda](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/frieda.md): A barmaid at the Herrenhof who becomes K.'s lover and later his fiancée.
- [Klamm](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/klamm.md): A high-ranking Castle official whom K. desperately tries to contact.
- [Barnabas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/barnabas.md): A young messenger from the Castle who delivers letters to K.
- [Olga](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/olga.md): Barnabas's sister who helps K. understand the family's troubled history with the Castle.
- [Amalia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/amalia.md): Olga's sister whose refusal of a Castle official's summons brought disgrace on her family.
- [Jeremiah](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/jeremiah.md): One of K.'s former assistants, later a rival for Frieda's affections.
- [Brunswick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/brunswick.md): A village shoemaker and father of Hans, who becomes involved with K.
- [Sortini](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/sortini.md): A Castle official whose offensive letter to Amalia triggered the family's downfall.
- [Pepi](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/pepi.md): A young chambermaid at the Herrenhof who briefly replaces Frieda.
- [Schwarzer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/schwarzer.md): A Castle official's son who first questions K.'s arrival at the village.
- [Momus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/momus.md): A Castle secretary who conducts a village records interview with K.
- [Father](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/father.md): K.'s father, briefly mentioned in his memories and reflections.
- [Sordini](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/sordini.md): A meticulous Castle official who reviews paperwork from the village.
- [Seemann](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/seemann.md): A village man who appears briefly in the narrative.
- [Gerstäcker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/gerstaecker.md): A village innkeeper who provides lodging to K.
- [Fräulein Gisa](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/fraulen_gisa.md): A schoolteacher who interacts with K. during his time at the school.
- [Mizzi](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/mizzi.md): The wife of the village mayor, present during K.'s meeting with him.
- [Arthur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/arthur.md): One of K.'s two assistants, later dismissed.
- [Lasemann](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/lasemann.md): A village tanner in whose house K. first rests upon arrival.
- [Erlanger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/erlanger.md): A Castle official who summons Frieda for an interview.
- [Bertuch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/bertuch.md): A village man who appears briefly in the story.
- [Gardana](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/gardana.md): A female character mentioned in the narrative.
- [Mr. Teacher](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/mr_teacher.md): A schoolteacher who interacts with K. at the village school.
- [Hans](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters/hans.md): Brunswick's young son who befriends K. and delivers a message.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_2_se/characters