Camera Obscura (original version of Laughter in the Dark)

Main Characters and Their Development

• Bruno Kretschmar — the protagonist, a successful art critic who falls in love with the young girl Magda. His passion for her leads to the destruction of his life and career. Throughout the novel, he loses his family, job, and sight, symbolizing his spiritual blindness.
• Magda Peters — a young and beautiful girl who becomes the object of Kretschmar's passion. She manipulates him for her own gain, leading to his downfall.
• Arnold — a friend and colleague of Kretschmar who tries to help him in difficult times but ultimately proves powerless against the destructive force of Kretschmar's passion.
• Dagmar Kretschmar — Bruno's wife, who suffers from his infidelity and eventually leaves him, taking their daughter with her.