The End of the Affair

Main Characters and Their Development

• Maurice Bendrix - the main character and narrator, a writer who experiences complex feelings towards his former lover Sarah Miles. His development is tied to his struggle between jealousy, hatred, and love, as well as his search for meaning and faith.
• Sarah Miles - Maurice's lover, wife of Henry Miles. Her development involves an internal struggle between her love for Maurice and the religious convictions she acquires throughout the novel.
• Henry Miles - Sarah's husband, a civil servant. His character develops through his relationships with Sarah and Maurice, portraying him as a man unaware of his wife's infidelity and trying to maintain their marriage.
• Richard Smythe - a private detective hired by Maurice to follow Sarah. His character adds an element of tension and reveals certain aspects of Sarah's life.
• Parkis - Smythe's assistant, who also participates in the surveillance of Sarah. His role in the plot is secondary, but he helps uncover some details about Sarah.