The Last Day of a Condemned Man

Main Characters and Their Development

• The Condemned Man - the main character and narrator, whose name remains unknown. He is sentenced to death and spends his final days awaiting execution. His inner world and reflections on life, death, justice, and human nature form the core of the book. As the execution approaches, his thoughts become increasingly profound and desperate.
• Marie - the condemned man's daughter, symbolizing innocence and purity. Her presence highlights the contrast between the cruelty of the sentence and the innocence of a child. The meeting with his daughter before the execution becomes one of the most emotional moments for the protagonist.
• The Condemned Man's Wife - her character also remains unnamed, but she plays a crucial role in the protagonist's life. Her suffering and grief over her husband's sentence underscore the tragedy of the situation and heighten the emotional tension in the book.
• The Prison Chaplain - he tries to comfort the condemned man and prepare him for death from a religious perspective. His presence prompts various reflections on faith and religion in the protagonist.
• The Jailers and Guards - they represent the faceless force of law and order, performing their duties without much emotion. Their indifference to the condemned man's fate underscores the cruelty and inhumanity of the justice system.