Arcade

Arcade (ahr-KAHD) is an ambitious angel who devises a plan to instigate a rebellion against God, referred to as Ialdabaoth. He successfully recruits hundreds of thousands of fellow angels to his cause. However, his aspirations are dashed when Satan, whom he had hoped would lead the charge, declines to support the revolution. Despite this setback, Arcade's intentions are driven by a desire for change and a belief in his cause.

Monsieur Julien Sariette

Monsieur Julien Sariette (zhoo-LYAH[N] sahr-YEHT) is a diligent and precise librarian tasked with overseeing a vast library. He becomes increasingly perplexed and agitated when Arcade begins to disrupt the order by scattering the books. This chaos culminates in the disappearance of a rare volume of Lucretius, which ultimately leads to Sariette's mental breakdown, highlighting his obsession with order and control.

Maurice d’Esparvieu

Maurice d’Esparvieu (moh-REES dehs-pahr-VYEW) is a wealthy and indolent young man whose guardian angel is Arcade. Despite Arcade's revolutionary ambitions, Maurice responds with amusement rather than alarm and cooperates by sharing his clothing and even his mistress with the angel. His demeanor suggests a laid-back approach to life and the extraordinary events around him.

Madame Gilberte des Aubels

Madame Gilberte des Aubels (zheel-BEHR day-zoh-BEHL) is the mistress of Maurice d’Esparvieu. She extends her affections to Arcade as well, indicating her open and generous nature in matters of love and companionship.

Satan

Satan is portrayed not as a traditional antagonist but as a sympathetic prince. When approached by Arcade and his followers to lead their revolution against God, he ultimately refuses. His reasons are philosophical: victory would transform the rebels into their former oppressors by making them akin to God and the heavenly hosts, thereby losing their connection to humanity. Instead, Satan advocates for spreading love and compassion on Earth as a means to truly challenge divine authority and achieve universal peace.

Prince Istar

Prince Istar is a rebel angel with expertise in chemistry. He contributes to the revolutionary cause by developing bombs, underscoring his technical skills and commitment to Arcade's vision of change.

Théophile

Théophile (tay-oh-FEEL) is another angel approached by Arcade. Despite his internal conflict stemming from a past liaison with a mortal woman, Théophile ultimately declines to join the revolt, choosing to uphold God's authority. His character illustrates the tension between personal guilt and adherence to divine order.

Sophar

Sophar (soh-FAHR), having assumed the identity of Max Everdingen, a Jewish banker, declines to join Arcade’s rebellion. However, he exhibits a pragmatic side by offering to supply the rebels with munitions, financed through his banking operations. This portrays him as a character driven by business acumen and opportunism.

Zita

Zita (zee-TAH) is a fierce and combative female angel eager to participate in the rebellion. Her desire to fight as a man highlights her determination and defiance of traditional gender roles, marking her as a fiery and driven individual within the angelic ranks.