# The Castle — Character guide

> Key figures in The Castle by Franz Kafka.

- [K.](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/k.md): The protagonist, a land surveyor who arrives at the village seeking access to the Castle.
- [Frieda](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_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_se/characters/klamm.md): A high-ranking Castle official who is the object of K.'s obsession and Frieda's former lover.
- [Barnabas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/barnabas.md): A young messenger from the Castle who becomes K.'s main contact and ally.
- [Olga](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/olga.md): Barnabas's sister who helps K. understand the family's tragic history with the Castle.
- [Amalia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/amalia.md): Olga's sister whose defiance of a Castle official brought disgrace upon her family.
- [Jeremiah](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/jeremiah.md): One of K.'s former assistants, later a rival for Frieda's affections.
- [Pepi](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/pepi.md): A young barmaid who briefly replaces Frieda at the Herrenhof.
- [Momus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/momus.md): A Castle secretary who conducts interrogations of village residents.
- [Brunswick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/brunswick.md): A village shoemaker and father of Hans, who becomes K.'s student.
- [Hans](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/hans.md): Brunswick's son, a schoolboy who befriends K. and admires him.
- [Sortini](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/sortini.md): A Castle official whose lewd note to Amalia triggered her family's downfall.
- [Sordini](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/sordini.md): A meticulous Castle official who reviews village petitions.
- [Schwarzer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/schwarzer.md): A Castle official's son who challenges K.'s arrival at the inn.
- [Gerstäcker](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/gerstaecker.md): A village coachman who transports K. and others.
- [Lasemann](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/lasemann.md): A village tanner who hosts K. on his first night.
- [Mizzi](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/mizzi.md): The landlady's assistant at the Bridge Inn.
- [Galater](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/galater.md): A Castle official mentioned in village gossip.
- [Erlanger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/erlanger.md): A Castle official who summons K. for a brief interview.
- [Fritz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/fritz.md): A village innkeeper mentioned in passing.
- [Teacher](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/teacher.md): The village schoolteacher who hires K. as a janitor.
- [Arthur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/arthur.md): One of K.'s two assistants assigned by the Castle.
- [Seemann](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/seemann.md): A village man briefly mentioned in conversation.
- [Bertuch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_castle_se/characters/bertuch.md): A village resident who appears at the Herrenhof.

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