Despair

Main Characters and Their Development

• Hermann Karlovich — The main character and narrator, a chocolate manufacturer. He considers himself a genius and an extraordinary person, but his vanity and arrogance lead to tragic consequences. Hermann plans to commit the perfect crime by killing his double, but his plan fails, trapping him in his own vanity and illusions.
• Lydia — Hermann's wife, who plays a secondary role in his life. She neither understands nor supports his ambitions, which heightens his sense of loneliness and despair.
• Felix — Hermann's double, a poor and homeless man whom Hermann uses in his criminal plan. Felix becomes a victim of Hermann's manipulations, highlighting the tragedy and immorality of the protagonist's actions.