The Falling City

Main Characters and Their Development

• John Compton—a man whose inner struggle with predestination and alienation becomes the leitmotif of the narrative; his character is revealed through his confrontation with the city's mysterious laws and his search for a place in a world where past and future are inextricably entwined.
• Esther—the embodiment of tenderness and resilience, she becomes not only Compton's companion but also a mirror of his doubts; her development is imbued with a subtle sadness and hope for the possibility of choice.
• The City—an almost sentient character, whose walls and streets breathe ancient wisdom and hidden threat; its influence on the fate of the protagonists is inescapable, and the changes in its appearance reflect the inner metamorphoses of its inhabitants.