The Absolutist

Main Characters and Their Development

• Tristan Sadler — a young man whose soul is wounded by war and irresolvable inner conflicts. His journey is a slow and painful movement from youthful innocence to the bitter realization of his own guilt and loss. Tristan seeks redemption as he confronts the ghosts of his past, and his development is a subtle, painful transformation, each step colored by longing for what is lost and hope for forgiveness.
• Will Bancroft — Tristan’s friend and comrade, embodying ideals of courage and inner integrity. His steadfastness in his own principles is both his support and his tragedy, as Will chooses the path of absolute refusal of violence despite societal pressure and the horrors of war. His development is a tragic evolution from bright youth to a tormenting choice that forever changes him and those around him.
• Marian Bancroft — Will’s sister, a woman whose life is intertwined with the fates of the main characters. Her inner world is revealed gradually, through pain, loyalty, and inevitable coming of age. Marian becomes a symbol of resilience and forgiveness; her journey is one through the bitterness of loss to a quiet but profound acceptance of life as it is.