The Schopenhauer Cure

Main Characters and Their Development

• Julius Hertzfeld: An aging psychotherapist facing a skin cancer diagnosis. He conducts his final therapy group, exploring his mortality and its impact on his patients' lives.
• Philip Slate: A former patient of Julius who rejected emotional intimacy and interpersonal relationships, studying Schopenhauer's philosophy. His challenge is to overcome his cynical view of life and learn empathy.
• Rebecca: A woman suffering from the aftermath of sexual abuse and struggling to form healthy relationships. Her healing journey involves self-acceptance and learning to trust others.
• Bonnie: A group member dealing with betrayal and divorce. Her story revolves around forgiveness and learning to build new, healthy relationships after betrayal.
• Gil: A group member suffering from social anxiety and irritability, who learns to manage his fears and socialize with the support of the group and Julius's therapeutic methods.