Pin

Pin, the central figure in The Path to the Nest of Spiders, epitomizes the quintessential street urchin with his fragile, thin body and a sharp, gravelly voice, which he uses to hurl insults and mask his vulnerability. Living with an older sister, Pin navigates a life marked by streetwise rebellion and apparent self-assurance. Beneath this tough exterior, however, he is a child in desperate need of guidance and affection. His every action—from stealing a German soldier's gun to escaping from prison and joining a partisan rebel group—stems from his desire to be noticed by the adult world he yearns to understand and be part of. Only with a true friend does he share his greatest secret: the place where spiders make their nests.

Pin's perception of the world is deeply influenced by his personal struggles and the wartime degradation of human nature. He is particularly anxious about sexuality, possessing a rudimentary understanding of its mechanics, which he often expresses through jokes and songs to mock the sexual flaws of others. Confused by adult relationships, especially those between men and women, he harbors a vibrant disdain for females, a sentiment amplified by his association with Cousin. Together, they find solace in the belief that women are the root of all evil, including war. This shared disdain mirrors Pin's cynicism about adult relationships, a view further compounded by his sister Rina's moral failings and Dritto's compromised leadership.

Despite his bravado, Pin's world is marked by unresolved futures and a deep-seated mistrust of adult relationships, which he views as inherently destructive. His experiences underscore a bleak picture of humanity seen through the eyes of a troubled adolescent, struggling to make sense of the chaos around him.

Cousin

Cousin is a disenchanted partisan, hardened by the war, who views killing as a routine duty devoid of patriotic fervor. Once driven by enthusiasm, he is now wearied and disillusioned, finding his true enemies in women, whom he blames for his own unhappiness and the world's miseries. He believes that women are the cause of all evil, including war, a philosophy he shares with Pin, offering the boy the camaraderie and affection he desperately seeks.

Cousin's advice to Pin, "Of course, behind all the stories with a bad ending there’s always a woman... War’s all due to women…," encapsulates his misogynistic worldview. This shared bond with Pin, based on mutual disdain for women, provides a semblance of family and companionship, yet highlights the unresolved complexities in their lives.

Red Wolf

Red Wolf, a few years older than Pin, is a partisan group member known for his zealous political involvement. His commitment to the cause is so intense that it borders on fanaticism. Red Wolf prioritizes action over ideology, presenting himself as a humorless, doctrinaire Communist. His harsh demeanor often results in derogatory dismissals of others, such as labeling one as a "Trotskyist" and quoting Lenin's "Left-wing Communism, an infantile disorder."

Initially perceived as a hero by Pin for having successfully entered the adult world, Red Wolf's rigid adherence to Party doctrine ultimately reveals his flaws. His thirst for action supersedes his devotion to ideology, marking him as a complex and, ultimately, flawed character.

Rina

Rina, known as The Dark Girl of Long Alley, is Pin's older sister and guardian, though she shows little concern for his well-being. As a prostitute, she is indifferent to Pin's whereabouts and remains unconcerned with political matters. Rina exploits wartime conditions to her benefit by consorting with soldiers from various factions, including Germans, Italians, Fascists, and anti-Fascists.

Her lifestyle and moral failings contribute significantly to Pin's skewed understanding of...