The narrator

The narrator remains an enigmatic presence throughout the novel, never self-identifying through first-person pronouns or personal revelations. Despite the ambiguity surrounding this character's identity, there are strong indications that the narrator might be A...'s husband and the owner of the plantation. The repeated, meticulous descriptions of domestic scenes, particularly at the dinner table, hint at the narrator’s obsession with the minutiae of daily life. It is the narrator who notes the consistently set extra place at the table, suggesting they live at the plantation. This attention to detail, combined with a voyeuristic tendency to observe through the jalousies, or Venetian blinds, underscores a narrow and limited perspective that breeds intense suspicion of A...'s fidelity. Although the narrator never directly interacts with other characters nor is addressed by them, readers infer that the narrator is possibly a silent, omnipresent observer, consumed by jealousy and suspicion.

A . . .

A..., the central figure around whom much of the narrative revolves, is depicted as a beautiful, dark-haired woman with an air of mystery. As the owner of a banana plantation in South America, she exudes both grace and efficiency. Her daily routine is marked by repetitive actions: reading, conversing with Franck about books, preparing drinks, and engaging in shopping excursions with Franck. One particular shopping trip ends with an overnight hotel stay due to a supposed car breakdown, fueling the narrator's suspicions of infidelity. Despite the circumstantial evidence and the narrator's doubts, A...’s possible infidelity remains unconfirmed, adding to the existential ennui that defines her existence. Her long legs, long hair, and unblinking green eyes evoke an image of surreal beauty, further suggesting that she might be more of an idealized figure rather than a tangible character, akin to a mannequin or a Picasso painting.

Franck

Franck, a neighbor and fellow plantation owner, becomes central to the narrator's suspicions due to his close association with A.... His character is painted in broad strokes, marked by his American eating habits, mistrust of native drivers, and an overnight stay with A... explained away by mechanical incompetence. This overnight absence, coupled with the frequent unaccompanied visits to A...'s plantation, deepens the narrator's jealousy and hints at a perceived inadequacy in Franck's personal life. Despite not appearing with his family in the narrative, Franck is a catalyst for the tension and suspicion that permeate the novel.

Christiane

Christiane, Franck's wife, never appears at the plantation, her absence pivotal in the unfolding drama. Her susceptibility to the oppressive climate serves as a convenient reason for her absences, which inadvertently thrust Franck and A... into closer proximity. This situational dynamic exacerbates the narrator's suspicions, making Christiane a silent yet significant influence in the novel's plot. Her absence aids in creating the intimate, charged atmosphere that envelops A... and Franck, further entrenching the narrator’s feelings of jealousy and paranoia.