The Marriage Plot

Main Characters and Their Development

• Madeleine Hanna - the main protagonist, a student at Brown University studying English literature. She is passionate about Victorian novels and is trying to make sense of her life and relationships. Madeleine goes through personal and professional challenges as she seeks to balance her romantic ideals with reality.
• Leonard Bankhead - a charismatic and intellectual student who struggles with bipolar disorder. His relationship with Madeleine is complex and tense as he tries to cope with his inner demons and find his place in the world.
• Mitchell Gramm - a friend of Madeleine who is in love with her. He studies religion and philosophy and embarks on a journey around the world in search of meaning and spiritual enlightenment. Mitchell undergoes internal changes as he tries to understand his feelings for Madeleine and his purpose.