Don Fabrizio Corbera

Don Fabrizio Corbera, often referred to as the prince of Salina, serves as the focal point around which the novel's themes and narratives revolve. As a figure embodying the old Sicilian aristocracy, Fabrizio is depicted in a period of transition with the advent of the Italian Risorgimento—a campaign aiming for Italian unity—which threatens the Bourbon monarchy ruling Naples and Sicily. By 1870, a decade after the story begins, Italy emerges as a unified kingdom with Rome as its capital. At forty-five, Fabrizio contemplates the inevitable passage of time and the dissolution of the old order with a blend of melancholy and resignation. His personal life, laden with disillusionment, mirrors the broader societal changes. Despite his despondency, he acknowledges the necessity for both political and social compromise. Fabrizio observes his nephew’s passionate pursuit of his bride with a sense of envy, tinged with the realization that such unions are dictated by financial and social imperatives. Throughout his adulthood, Fabrizio has oscillated between personal disappointments and a quest to transcend them, seeking solace and answers in the stars. Ultimately, he greets death as a liberation, recognizing that life will persist beyond his existence and that his preoccupations with bygone times were in vain.

Tancredi Falconeri

Tancredi Falconeri, the charming and daring nephew of Fabrizio, embodies the spirit of adaptation required to forge a new Italy from its fractured aristocratic past. His decision to join Garibaldi’s forces and ultimately marry Angelica Sedara is driven by a pragmatic acknowledgment that the era of old Sicily is fading. Understanding that his family is in need of financial stability, Tancredi sees the advantage in embracing change rather than resisting it fruitlessly. His actions signify a blend of personal ambition and acceptance of the evolving political landscape.

Don Calogero Sedara

Don Calogero Sedara, the mayor of Donnafugata, is depicted as both uncultured and financially astute. Emerging from the impoverished peasantry, he is acutely aware of the shifting social dynamics that favor his ascent in modern Italy. His wealth and ambition drive him to cunningly exploit Fabrizio for personal advancement. Despite his coarse demeanor, Don Calogero represents the new socioeconomic forces gaining traction in the changing Italian society.

Angelica Sedara

Angelica Sedara, the stunning daughter of Don Calogero, captures the attention of Tancredi Falconeri with both her beauty and her pragmatic understanding of social mobility. Although genuinely enamored with Tancredi, Angelica is not oblivious to the strategic benefits of aligning with the Salina family. Her awareness of love's transient nature does not deter her from engaging in a marriage that promises social elevation and security.

Aimone Chevalley di Monterzuolo

Aimone Chevalley di Monterzuolo acts as an emissary of the Piedmontese government promoting unification. He approaches Fabrizio with an offer to serve as a senator in the nascent kingdom under Victor Emmanuel. However, Fabrizio declines, citing his belief that progress in Sicily is unattainable due to its inhabitants' fixation on historical grandeur. Chevalley remains optimistic, contending that the new administration has the potential to address Sicily’s woes and propel Italy towards a promising future.

Concetta Corbera

Concetta Corbera, recognized as the most resolute among Fabrizio’s daughters, endures a life overshadowed by the heartache of losing Tancredi to Angelica Sedara. Alongside her sisters, Carolina and Caterina, she strives to uphold a Christian ethos at the family villa well into the twentieth century. However, as the novel concludes, Concetta relinquishes her attachment to the past she once endeavored to preserve, signaling the termination of the Salina family lineage. Her journey reflects the broader theme of inevitable change and the relinquishing of past traditions.