The Wings of the Dove

Main Characters and Their Development

• Milly Theale – a young American heiress who travels to Europe in search of happiness and love. She is kind, generous, and naive, but suffers from an incurable illness. Milly becomes the central figure in a complex web of intrigue and manipulation, yet she maintains her inner purity and nobility until the end.
• Kate Croy – a beautiful and intelligent young woman who finds herself in a difficult situation due to her family's financial troubles. She loves Merton Densher but is forced to enter into a scheme to secure her future. Kate faces moral dilemmas and internal conflicts, making her development complex and multifaceted.
• Merton Densher – a young journalist who loves Kate Croy but becomes entangled in her plans. He experiences internal contradictions between love and honesty, leading him to difficult decisions and personal growth.
• Mrs. Lowder – Kate's aunt, an influential and domineering woman who seeks to control her niece's life. She plays a significant role in the plot, using her influence to achieve her own goals.
• Susan Stringham – Milly Theale's friend and companion who supports her in difficult times. She is caring and devoted but also becomes involved in the intrigues surrounding Milly.