Contact

Main Characters and Their Development

• Ellie Arroway — the main character, an astrophysicist who has been fascinated by stars and space since childhood. She leads a project to search for extraterrestrial signals and becomes a key figure in decoding the received message. Throughout the story, Ellie faces various personal and professional challenges that help her grow as a scientist and a person.
• Palmer Joss — a religious philosopher and writer who becomes an important opponent and ally to Ellie. His views on religion and science often clash with Ellie's scientific beliefs, but ultimately they find common ground and mutual understanding.
• David Drumlin — a scientific advisor to the U.S. President, initially skeptical of Ellie's project. However, as events unfold, he begins to recognize the importance of her work and plays a significant role in the political aspects of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization.
• Kent Clark — a colleague and friend of Ellie, who supports her scientific endeavors and assists in decoding the signal. His dedication to science and friendship with Ellie makes him an important character in her life.
• Ted Arroway — Ellie's father, who greatly influenced her interest in science and space. Although he dies when Ellie is young, his memory and lessons continue to inspire her throughout her life.