The narrator

The unnamed main character of the story. He lives alone with his sister Irene in their large family house. He is diligent in maintaining the cleaning and cooking schedule, and he has a love for French literature. When he first hears the intruders, he fearfully decides that the rear of the house has been taken over.

Read an in-depth analysis of the narrator.

Irene

The narrator’s sister. Irene spends her days obsessively knitting sweaters and other garments. She is both afraid of and incurious about the intruders in the house and follows the narrator with little questioning.

Read an in-depth analysis of Irene.