Brideshead Revisited

Main Characters and Their Development

• Charles Ryder - initially a young Oxford University student who feels lonely and alienated among his peers. His encounter with Sebastian Flyte, a member of an aristocratic family, dramatically changes his life. Charles becomes a close friend of the family and is first exposed to their complex relationships. As he matures, Charles develops as an artist and as a person, re-evaluating his views on life, love, and friendship.
• Sebastian Flyte - the extravagant and capricious son of Lady Marchmain, immersed in a world of toys, alcohol, and carefreeness. His closeness with Charles explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and personal decline. Sebastian suffers from his mother's disapproval and internal conflicts, leading him to a sad end in a monastic retreat.
• Lady Marchmain - Sebastian's mother, a woman of deep faith and strict principles. Her relationships with her children, especially with Sebastian, portray her as a strong yet domineering figure, whose actions lead to the breakdown of family relationships.
• Julia Flyte - Sebastian's sister, also undergoes a transformation from a young girl constrained by family and societal expectations to a woman seeking freedom and self-determination. Her romantic involvement with Charles and reflections on marriage and independence are key moments in her personal development.