The Woman in the Dunes

Main Characters and Their Development

• Jumpei Niki - the protagonist, an entomologist who comes to the village to find rare insects. He becomes trapped and is forced to live in a sand pit with a woman. Initially, he desperately tries to escape, but gradually he begins to adapt to life in the pit and even finds meaning in it.
• The Woman - a nameless widow living in the sand pit. She has accepted her fate and performs the daily routine of clearing sand. Her calmness and acceptance of her situation contrast with Jumpei's despair. Gradually, she becomes an important person to him, and their relationship evolves from hostility to mutual understanding and attachment.