The French Lieutenant's Woman

Main Characters and Their Development

• Sarah Woodruff: Sarah is the novel's protagonist, a woman with a mysterious past known in Lyme Regis as "the French Lieutenant's Woman." She is considered a fallen woman due to her association with a French officer. Throughout the novel, Sarah develops into a strong and independent character, challenging Victorian norms and stereotypes. She seeks freedom and self-realization despite societal condemnation.
• Charles Smithson: Charles is a young aristocrat and scientist engaged to Ernestina Freeman. His encounter with Sarah Woodruff changes his life and worldview. Charles experiences an internal conflict between duty and passion, tradition and freedom. His development in the novel shows a gradual realization of his true desires and a pursuit of personal freedom.
• Ernestina Freeman: Ernestina is Charles's fiancée, a young and naive girl from a wealthy family. She represents the typical Victorian woman, raised in strict traditions. Throughout the novel, her character remains static, undergoing no significant changes, but serves as a contrast to the development of Charles and Sarah.
• Sam Farrier: Sam is Charles's servant, an ambitious and pragmatic young man. He seeks to improve his social standing and is not afraid to use any means to do so. His development in the novel shows a growth in self-confidence and a pursuit of independence.