The Castle · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Castle by Franz Kafka.
K.
major
Also known as K., Josef K., Land Surveyor, the Land Surveyor
The protagonist, a land surveyor who arrives at the village seeking access to the Castle.
Frieda
major
Also known as Frieda, Fräulein Frieda, Freida
A barmaid at the Herrenhof who becomes K.'s lover and later his fiancée.
Klamm
major
Also known as Herr Klamm, Klamm Hans
A high-ranking Castle official who is the object of K.'s obsession and Frieda's former lover.
Barnabas
supporting
Also known as Barnabas, the Barnabas
A young messenger from the Castle who becomes K.'s main contact and ally.
Olga
supporting
Also known as Olga
Barnabas's sister who helps K. understand the family's tragic history with the Castle.
Amalia
supporting
Also known as Amalia
Olga's sister whose defiance of a Castle official brought disgrace upon her family.
Jeremiah
supporting
Also known as Jeremiah
One of K.'s former assistants, later a rival for Frieda's affections.
Pepi
supporting
Also known as Pepi
A young barmaid who briefly replaces Frieda at the Herrenhof.
Momus
supporting
Also known as Herr Momus
A Castle secretary who conducts interrogations of village residents.
Brunswick
supporting
Also known as Brunswick, Hans Brunswick
A village shoemaker and father of Hans, who becomes K.'s student.
Hans
supporting
Also known as Hans
Brunswick's son, a schoolboy who befriends K. and admires him.
Sortini
supporting
Also known as Sortini
A Castle official whose lewd note to Amalia triggered her family's downfall.
Sordini
minor
Also known as Sordini
A meticulous Castle official who reviews village petitions.
Schwarzer
minor
Also known as Schwarzer, this Schwarzer
A Castle official's son who challenges K.'s arrival at the inn.
Gerstäcker
minor
Also known as Gerstäcker
A village coachman who transports K. and others.
Lasemann
minor
Also known as the tanner Lasemann, Lasemann
A village tanner who hosts K. on his first night.
Mizzi
minor
Also known as Mizzi
The landlady's assistant at the Bridge Inn.
Galater
minor
Also known as Galater, Äúwas Galater
A Castle official mentioned in village gossip.
Erlanger
minor
Also known as Erlanger
A Castle official who summons K. for a brief interview.
Fritz
minor
Also known as Herr Fritz, Fritz
A village innkeeper mentioned in passing.
Teacher
minor
Also known as Mr. Teacher
The village schoolteacher who hires K. as a janitor.
Arthur
minor
Also known as Arthur
One of K.'s two assistants assigned by the Castle.
Seemann
minor
Also known as Seemann
A village man briefly mentioned in conversation.
Bertuch
minor
Also known as Bertuch
A village resident who appears at the Herrenhof.
Gardana
minor
Also known as Gardana
A woman mentioned in the Amalia story.
Fräulein Gisa
minor
Also known as Fräulein Gisa, Gisa
A schoolteacher in the village.
