The Purloined Letter

Main Characters and Their Development

• C. Auguste Dupin — the main character, a private detective with an outstanding analytical mind and deductive skills. In this story, he demonstrates his ability to see hidden truths and find solutions where others fail. Dupin uses his skills of observation and logical thinking to solve the mystery of the purloined letter, showing that sometimes the most obvious solution is the correct one.
• Minister D. — the antagonist of the story, a cunning and deceitful man who steals an important letter and uses it for blackmail. He is confident in his elusiveness and intellectual superiority but ultimately is outsmarted by Dupin, who surpasses him in cunning and insight.
• The Prefect of Police — a secondary character representing official authority. He turns to Dupin for help when all his efforts to find the letter prove unsuccessful. The Prefect symbolizes traditional investigative methods, which are ineffective in this situation.