The Hellbound Heart

Main Characters and Their Development

• Frank Cotton: Frank is the main antagonist of the book. Initially, he seeks new sensations and pleasures, leading him to Lemarchand's box. After opening the box, he ends up in hell and becomes a prisoner of the Cenobites. Later, he returns to the world of the living in a horrific state and begins manipulating his sister-in-law Julia to restore his body.
• Julia Cotton: Julia is Larry's wife and Frank's former lover. She finds Frank in his dreadful state and agrees to help him restore his body by killing people and offering them as sacrifices. In the process, she becomes increasingly ruthless and obsessed.
• Kirsty Cotton: Kirsty is Larry's daughter and the book's protagonist. She suspects something is wrong with Julia and Frank and eventually confronts the Cenobites. She negotiates with them to save her life and send Frank back to hell.
• Larry Cotton: Larry is Julia's husband and Kirsty's father. He is unaware of what is happening in his home and becomes a victim of Julia and Frank's manipulations.