The Tin Drum

Main Characters and Their Development

• Oskar Matzerath - the main character and narrator of the book, who decides at the age of three to stop growing and remains at a child's level, using his tin drum as a means of expression and protest. His development is tied to his unique perspective on events occurring in Germany before, during, and after World War II. Oskar possesses the ability to shatter glass with his voice, symbolizing his destructive influence and protest against the world around him.
• Agnes Matzerath - Oskar's mother, who is caught in a love triangle between her husband Alfred and cousin Jan Bronski. Her internal conflicts and tragic fate significantly impact Oskar's life.
• Alfred Matzerath - Oskar's father, a German tradesman who seeks stability and order. His relationship with Oskar is complex and strained, especially due to doubts about his paternity.
• Jan Bronski - Agnes's Polish cousin and Oskar's presumed biological father. His fate is tragic, and he becomes a victim of historical events, reflecting the complex relations between Germans and Poles.
• Maria Truczinski - Oskar's lover, with whom he has a complicated and contradictory relationship. She symbolizes both love and betrayal for Oskar.
• Sigismund Markus - a Jewish toy merchant who supports Oskar and his passion for the drum. His fate is tragic, and he becomes a victim of the Nazi regime.