The Wild Ass's Skin

Main Characters and Their Development

• Raphael de Valentin – a young nobleman on the brink of death due to poverty and illness, acquires the wild ass's skin that fulfills his desires, but with each fulfilled wish, the skin shrinks, and Raphael's life shortens. Greed and indifference to the needs of the soul lead him to ruin.
• Pauline – in love with Raphael, devoted and sincere, embodying true love. Her feelings and loyalty to Raphael remain unchanged throughout the narrative, despite his infidelities and neglect.
• The Old Man – a magician and sorcerer, provides Raphael with the wild ass's skin, symbolizing the mystical side of the plot, embodying the temptation and desire to possess unlimited power at the expense of one's own well-being.