Robert Cohn

Robert Cohn is a Jewish writer residing in Paris during the 1920s. Despite his wealth and education, including being a former middleweight boxing champion at Princeton, Cohn struggles with his confidence as a writer and has a complex relationship with women. His friend Jacob Barnes delights in teasing him, often emphasizing Cohn's social faux pas. When Cohn meets Lady Brett Ashley, he swiftly dismisses Frances Clyne, his mistress, and pursues an affair with Brett in San Sebastian. Cohn's infatuation leads him to believe Brett belongs to him, despite her intentions to marry Michael Campbell. His persistence extends to joining a Parisian group on a trip to Pamplona, Spain, where Brett's attention shifts to the young bullfighter, Pedro Romero. Cohn's jealousy culminates in a violent confrontation with Romero. Cohn's character is riddled with contradictions: conceited yet insecure, obtuse yet sensitive, and while he evokes pity, he is largely disliked by his acquaintances.

Jacob (Jake) Barnes

Jacob (Jake) Barnes is the novel's narrator, an American expatriate living in Paris, working as a newspaper correspondent. His life is marked by a war injury that has left him impotent, complicating his love for Lady Brett Ashley. Despite his emotional turmoil, Barnes maintains a philosophical outlook, believing "you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another" and "enjoying living was learning to get your money's worth and knowing when you had it." Jake spends much of his time drinking and socializing but remains sharp and alert, unlike many of his peers who succumb to excess. He is passionate about good food and drink, an expert in trout fishing, and a dedicated aficionado of bullfighting.

Lady Brett Ashley

Lady Brett Ashley is an Englishwoman separated from her husband. Having lost her first lover to dysentery during the war and divorcing her abusive second husband, Brett plans to marry Michael Campbell while in love with Jacob Barnes. Her relationship with Barnes remains unfulfilled due to his impotence. Brett is a habitual drinker and has numerous affairs, including with Robert Cohn and Pedro Romero. She embodies the "lost generation," attempting to navigate life through transient relationships. Despite her intentions to settle with Campbell, Brett's restlessness and allure often lead her into new entanglements. She is an emblem of the new feminism of the 1920s and a figure of beauty and melancholy.

Bill Gorton

Bill Gorton is a witty American and a close friend of Jake Barnes. The two share adventures in Spain, especially their mutual love for fishing and bullfighting. Gorton arrives in Paris to join Jake on a fishing trip and helps lift his spirits. He believes in "a simple exchange of values" and living in the moment, a philosophy that complements his amiable and optimistic nature.

Michael Campbell

Michael Campbell is Lady Brett Ashley's fiancé, a Scotsman who has gone bankrupt and lives on an allowance. Pleasant when sober, Campbell becomes blunt and abrasive when drunk. He is acutely aware of Brett's affections for others, particularly her infatuation with Pedro Romero, which exacerbates his insecurities and leads to tension with Robert Cohn, whom he views with disdain.

Pedro Romero

Pedro Romero is a promising young bullfighter who captures Lady Brett Ashley's attention during the fiesta in Pamplona. At just nineteen, Romero is both courageous and skilled in the bullring, embodying the idealized heroism of the sport. His affair with Brett ends when he expresses a desire to marry her, and she, realizing her detrimental influence, decides to leave him.

Count Mippipopolous

Count Mippipopolous is a Greek nobleman who enjoys the pleasures of life, particularly when it comes to champagne. He is a friend to Brett and Jake in Paris, offering them a different perspective on living well. The Count's philosophy revolves around knowing when you've gotten your money's worth, a lesson he has learned through his experiences and age.

Montoya

Montoya is the owner of a hotel in Pamplona where Jake Barnes and his friends stay during the fiesta. A passionate aficionado of bullfighting, Montoya recognizes and respects those who truly appreciate the art. His hotel serves as a haven for esteemed bullfighters, and he supports young matadors who show genuine potential in the sport.

Frances Clyne

Frances Clyne is Robert Cohn's girlfriend from America. She initially believes she loves Cohn and is willing to sacrifice her ambitions to be with him. However, Cohn's newfound success as a writer leads him to seek adventure, leaving Frances feeling betrayed. Realizing Cohn has no intention of marrying her, she leaves him and returns to England after a bitter confrontation.

Belmonte

Belmonte is a historical figure, once one of the greatest matadors of his time, who is depicted in the story as aging and past his prime. Despite his decline, he maintains a dignified presence, symbolizing the novel’s moral of living with style regardless of life's challenges. His character shows the human side of a hero who must confront the passage of time.

Mrs. Braddocks

Mrs. Braddocks is a Canadian known for her easy social graces. She attempts to revive pre-war social events and gathers people for dinners before their nights of clubbing. Her character serves as a social anchor within the expatriate community, blending hospitality with a touch of nostalgia.

Georgette Hobin

Georgette Hobin, also known as Georgette Leblanc, is a prostitute in Paris who accompanies Jake Barnes. She is cynical and attempts to conceal her imperfect teeth, sharing a mutual understanding with Jake that everyone has their afflictions. However, she remains on the periphery of his social circle.