The Secret History

Main Characters and Their Development

• Richard Papen: The main character and narrator of the book. Richard comes from California to Hampden College in Vermont, where he joins a small group of students studying ancient Greek under the guidance of Professor Julian Morrow. At the beginning of the book, Richard is naive and eager to belong, but as the plot unfolds, he becomes increasingly involved in the dark and destructive events occurring within the group.
• Henry Winter: The leader of the group of students studying Greek. Henry is intelligent, charismatic, and strong-willed. He plays a key role in organizing and executing the murder that becomes the central event of the book. Henry gradually reveals himself to be a manipulative and ruthless person, willing to do anything to achieve his goals.
• Camilla Macaulay: The only girl in the group. Camilla is beautiful and enigmatic, attracting the attention of many men, including Richard and Henry. Her relationship with her twin brother Charles is complex and tense. Camilla becomes increasingly isolated and depressed due to the events occurring within the group.
• Charles Macaulay: Camilla's twin brother. Charles is charismatic and charming but also prone to alcoholism and self-destruction. His relationships with his sister and other group members become increasingly strained as the plot develops. Charles plays an important role in the book's climactic events.
• Francis Abernathy: One of the students in the group. Francis is wealthy and eccentric, often acting as a mediator between other group members. His homosexuality and complex family relationships add depth to his character. Francis becomes increasingly anxious and paranoid due to the events occurring within the group.
• Edmund 'Bunny' Corcoran: A group member whose murder becomes the central event of the book. Bunny is carefree and frivolous but also manipulative and selfish. His behavior and blackmail of other group members lead to his murder. Bunny serves as a catalyst for revealing the darker sides of the other characters.
• Julian Morrow: The professor teaching ancient Greek. Julian is charismatic and intellectual, exerting a strong influence on his students. However, his idealized views on life and art ultimately lead to tragic consequences. Julian remains a mysterious figure, whose true motives and feelings are unclear.