The Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass

Main Characters and Their Development

• Joseph – the main character and narrator, who returns to the sanatorium to visit his father. Joseph experiences complex emotions related to memories of the past and attempts to understand the present. His inner world is full of fantasies and reflections on time and reality.
• Joseph's father – an eccentric and enigmatic character residing in the sanatorium. He is portrayed as a man living in his own world, filled with strange ideas and inventions. His image symbolizes the passage of time and attempts to preserve the past.
• Doctor Gotard – a physician at the sanatorium who cares for the patient and helps Joseph navigate his feelings. He symbolizes rationality and science, contrasted with fantasies and memories.
• Other patients of the sanatorium – a variety of characters, each with their own quirks and peculiarities. They create an atmosphere of mystery and unreality, emphasizing the theme of time and memory.