The Lily of the Valley

Main Characters and Their Development

• Félix de Vandenesse — the main character and narrator, a young man who falls in love with Madame de Mortsauf. He undergoes inner turmoil and emotional suffering due to his unrequited love.
• Madame Henriette de Mortsauf — the married woman whom Félix loves. She embodies virtue and moral purity but also experiences inner conflict due to her feelings for Félix and loyalty to her husband.
• Count de Mortsauf — Henriette's husband, a man with a difficult character who often displays cruelty and despotism. His behavior intensifies Henriette's suffering and creates tension in her relationship with Félix.
• Mademoiselle Natalie de Manerville — a woman who also shows interest in Félix and contrasts with Henriette with her more frivolous and worldly nature.