Characters
Arkenholz
Arkenholz (AHR-kehn-hohlts), a student and the son of a merchant, is a central figure in the narrative. His youthful, unkempt appearance signifies not a lack of care but rather a life of action. Known for his heroism during a catastrophic house collapse, he embodies vitality in stark contrast to the predominantly enfeebled or spectral characters around him. His role as a student is dual-faceted: he is both an observer and a participant, learning from the unfolding corruption and existential revelations. Through his supernatural birthright as a "Sunday child," Arkenholz possesses the ability to foresee events and perceive specters invisible to others. Initially idealistic and enchanted by the beautiful Girl, he is manipulated by Hummel, who assures him of wealth and introduces him to Adele. Despite his naivety, Arkenholz's ultimate realization of life’s hidden miseries and truths marks his journey. His experience concludes with a poignant understanding that true paradise may only be attainable in an afterlife.
Hummel
Jacob Hummel (HUHM-mehl), an 80-year-old man reliant on a wheelchair, defies his benign appearance with a sinister disposition. Often referred to as "the old man," he is likened to devilish figures through his manipulative and vampiric actions. Hummel's past involves intricate schemes and exploitation, such as entangling Arkenholz's father in dubious dealings and maintaining a vengeful desire against the Colonel for stealing his fiancée, Miss Beatrice von Holsteinkrona. His complex plan involves deceiving Arkenholz to infiltrate the Colonel's house and expose the web of lies sustaining its inhabitants. Despite his machinations and intent to liberate the house from corruption, his own sins surface. Accusations from Amelia and Bengtsson dismantle his facade, revealing his darker deeds, including the murder of the Milkmaid. Hummel meets his demise through suicide, driven by his confronted guilt and loss of power.
The Girl
The Girl, also known as Adele, is Arkenholz's friend and the supposed daughter of the Colonel. In truth, she is the offspring of an affair between Amelia and Jacob Hummel. Adele's existence is marred by inherited corruption and a mysterious illness that drains her vitality. Her relationship with Arkenholz is seemingly fated, yet her life is entwined with the deceit permeating the household. Despite the Student's attempts to redeem her, Adele succumbs to the toxic environment, dying as a symbol of the inevitable consequences of the family's hidden transgressions.
The Milkmaid
The Milkmaid is an apparition perceived only by Arkenholz, embodying a haunting presence that unnerves Hummel, who is implicated in her death. She represents a fragment of the play’s exploration of guilt and retribution, serving as a silent reminder of Hummel's darkest actions.
The Colonel
The Colonel, not truly a military figure, crafted his identity through deception, acquiring a noble title and wealth under false pretenses. Once a kitchen servant who lured Miss Beatrice von Holsteinkrona from Hummel, his life’s foundation rests on illusions. Married to Amelia, the Colonel mistakenly believes Adele is his daughter. Despite his constructed life, he acknowledges his past errors when faced with Hummel's revelations during the ghost supper.
The Mummy
Amelia, known as the Mummy, is the Colonel's wife and Adele's mother. Her life is characterized by deception, such as falsifying her age to the Colonel and concealing her affair with Hummel. Over time, she becomes a spectral figure, trapped in a closet away from light, embodying death-in-life. During the ghost supper, Amelia defies Hummel by revealing his own crimes, leading to his suicide.
The Dead Man
The Dead Man, a consul and former lover of the Caretaker's Wife, is a character whose corpse remains unburied, occasionally rising to ensure his funeral preparations. His life was dominated by...
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superficial prestige, and his affair resulted in the birth of the Dark Lady.
Bengtsson
Bengtsson, the Colonel’s butler, has a history with Hummel, who once attempted to starve his family. Serving as a crucial witness against Hummel, Bengtsson's testimony at the ghost supper aids in the latter's downfall, reaffirming his resilience against past oppressions.
The Caretaker's Wife
This character plays a minor yet significant role as the former lover of the Dead Man, giving birth to the Dark Lady. Her background reflects the pervasive infidelity and complexity of relationships within the narrative.
Johansson
Johansson, an educated man and bookseller, finds himself in service to Hummel due to past indiscretions. His servitude is a form of penance and survival, revealing the Old Man's manipulation and control over those entangled in his webs of deceit.
The Lady in Black
The Lady in Black, also known as the Dark Lady, is the daughter of the Dead Man and is engaged to Baron Skanskorg. Her presence in the narrative weaves together various familial and social dynamics, highlighting the interconnected nature of the characters’ lives.
The Cook
Related to Hummel, the Cook is part of the vampiric Hummel family. She enacts a slow starvation of the family through inadequate nourishment, symbolizing the pervasive generational curse and the physical manifestation of their moral decay.
Baron Skanskorg
Baron Skanskorg, the Aristocrat, is involved with the Lady in Black while still married. A former lover of Amelia, he is recognized by Hummel as a jewel thief, reflecting the pervasive theme of concealed identities and dishonesty.
Miss Beatrice von Holsteinkrona
Miss Beatrice von Holsteinkrona, once Hummel's betrothed, was seduced away by the Colonel. Her entanglement with these characters sets in motion Hummel's lifelong quest for revenge, underscoring the destructive power of past grievances.
