The Man Without Qualities

Main Characters and Their Development

• Ulrich: The main character of the novel, a man without definite qualities, who tries to find meaning in life and his place in the world. He is an intellectual, skeptic, and analyst, constantly questioning his actions and motives.
• Agathe: Ulrich's sister, with whom he reunites after a long separation. Their relationship becomes a central theme in the second part of the novel. Agathe also seeks life's meaning and spiritual enlightenment.
• Diotima (Ermelinda Tuzzi): The wife of a high-ranking official who organizes the 'Parallel Campaign'—a project to reform the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She strives for spiritual and cultural renewal but often finds herself trapped in her own illusions.
• The Archimandrite: A mystical and religious leader who influences Agathe and Ulrich. His ideas and teachings become an important part of their spiritual quests.
• General Stumm von Bordwehr: A military man involved in the 'Parallel Campaign'. He represents a typical member of the bureaucracy and military elite, striving for order and discipline.
• Clarisse: A friend of Ulrich, suffering from mental disorders. Her tragic fate and internal conflicts reflect the overall atmosphere of uncertainty and crisis in the novel.