Joseph Garcin
Joseph Garcin is a journalist from Rio who arrives in hell after having been shot twelve times for refusing to fight in an unnamed war. When the valet shows him the drawing-room in which he’s…
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Inez Serrano
Inez Serrano is an intelligent and stubborn postal worker who has been sent to hell because of the “cruel” way she treats others. When the valet first brings her to the drawing-room where she will…
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Estelle Rigault
Estelle is an elegant young woman from Paris who arrives in hell thinking there’s been some “ghastly mistake.” When the valet shows her to the drawing-room, she sees Garcin sitting with his hands covering his…
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The Valet
The valet is a deferential staff worker in hell who never blinks. He shows Garcin, Inez, and Estelle to the drawing-room in which they’ll spend eternity together. He also answers their questions, telling…
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Florence
Florence is Inez’s lover on earth. Florence is married to Inez’s cousin, but when Inez moves in with them, Inez seduces Florence and convinces her to leave him. Florence does this, but she…
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Olga
Olga is Estelle’s best friend on earth. When Estelle arrives in hell, she has a vision of her own funeral, where Olga stands dutifully by her sister. In another vision, Estelle sees Olga dancing…
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Estelle’s Husband
Estelle’s husband is an older man who marries her shortly after both her parents die. Estelle agrees to enter into this marriage because her husband is rich and she needs to care for her…
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Garcin’s Wife
Garcin’s wife is a sad woman he claims to have “rescued” from the “gutter.” Throughout their marriage, Garcin cheats on his wife constantly, making no effort to hide his affairs. Despite this, his wife…
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Gomez
Gomez is Garcin’s colleague at the newspaper office. When Garcin dies and goes to hell, he has visions of Gomez and his other coworkers as they sit in the office and discuss the nature…
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Inez’s Cousin
Inez’s cousin is married to Florence, whom Inez seduces. After Inez finally convinces Florence to leave this man, he gets hit by a tram and dies. Although Inez doesn’t clarify the circumstances of…
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Peter
Peter is a young man with whom Estelle has a romantic relationship. Although Peter is quite taken by her, Estelle doesn’t feel particularly strongly for him, since she has a husband and is also in…
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Minor Characters
Roger
Roger is a man with whom Estelle has an affair, which her husband knows nothing about. When Estelle gets pregnant with Roger's child, Roger is delighted. But after Estelle kills the baby in order to keep the affair a secret, Roger is so distraught that he shoots and kills himself.
