he lacks the social finesse of the Divers and their circle. Despite this, he is decisive and self-assured.

Initially a loyal friend to the Divers, Barban's feelings for Nicole become apparent, culminating in their affair. His decisive action in claiming Nicole as his own, leading to their eventual marriage, underscores his willingness to pursue what he desires without hesitation.

Tommy's character contrasts the social milieu of the Divers, emphasizing his role as both a friend and a catalyst for Nicole's personal transformation.

Beth Evan (Baby) Warren

Beth Evan, known as Baby Warren, is Nicole Diver's elder sister, epitomizing snobbishness and manipulation. Emotionally detached, she manages the family finances and controls Nicole's wealth. Viewing the world through a lens of superiority, Baby is determined to use her resources to secure Nicole's well-being.

Her suggestion to "purchase" a doctor for Nicole eventually leads to Dick's marriage to her sister. Despite disapproving of Dick, Baby focuses on what she perceives as Nicole's best interests, although her interference contributes to the couple's eventual separation.

Baby's character, devoid of personal roots or direction, embodies the manipulative use of wealth and influence within familial relationships.

Mrs. Elsie Speers

Mrs. Elsie Speers, the driving force behind her daughter Rosemary Hoyt's acting career, is dedicated to her success. Despite her efforts to foster Rosemary's individuality, she falls short. As both mother and business agent, she encourages Rosemary's pursuit of Dick Diver, seeing it as a beneficial experience for her daughter's independence, regardless of the potential harm.

Her character reveals the complexities of ambition intertwined with maternal aspirations, underscoring the impact of parental influence on Rosemary's development.

Abe North

Abe North, once a promising musician, is a friend of the Divers who succumbs to alcoholism. His life is characterized by a lack of ambition and descent into turmoil, leading to his untimely demise. Despite his talents, Abe becomes embroiled in conflicts, ultimately meeting a tragic end as a victim of his self-destructive tendencies.

Abe's journey reflects the themes of wasted potential and the destructive power of addiction, mirroring the broader narrative of lost opportunities within the novel.

Mary North

Mary North, Abe's wife, is portrayed as ineffectual during her marriage to him. However, following his death, she remarries, joining the ranks of the international elite. Her transition from a passive observer of Abe's decline to a socially prominent figure highlights her ability to seek and attain a more advantageous position.

Mary's character evolution illustrates the pursuit of social status and the reinvention of identity amidst personal tragedy.

Collis Clay

Collis Clay, a young Yale graduate acquainted with Rosemary Hoyt, is studying architecture in Europe. He dreads returning to Georgia to manage the family business. Collis shares tales of Rosemary's past with Dick, inciting Dick's jealousy and highlighting the complexities of their intertwined relationships. He is present during a key moment when Dick's drunkenness leads to his imprisonment.

Collis's presence in the narrative underscores the intersecting paths of youth, ambition, and the repercussions of past actions within the story.

Franz Gregorovious

Franz Gregorovious, a Swiss psychiatrist, partners with Dick Diver to establish a clinic funded by Nicole's wealth. As Dick's drinking and erratic behavior worsen, Franz takes the reins, eventually buying out the clinic from Dick. His character serves as a foil to Dick, exemplifying stability and professional success in contrast to Dick's decline.

Franz's role in the story highlights the theme of professional responsibility and the impact of personal failures on career and relationships.

Kaethe

Kaethe, Franz Gregorovious's wife, is depicted as envious of American prosperity and tactless. Her character embodies the tension between European and American values, illustrating the cultural clashes that pervade the novel's social landscape.

Gausse

Gausse owns a small Riviera hotel frequented by the Divers and their social circle during summer retreats. His establishment provides a backdrop for many character interactions, underscoring the social dynamics and tensions within the narrative.

Mr. and Mrs. McKisco

Albert McKisco, an aspiring American novelist, and his wife Violet initially navigate the Diver set with feelings of inferiority. Albert gains confidence and success as a writer following a duel with Tommy Barban. Meanwhile, Violet is characterized by her social ambition and support for her husband, representing the aspirations and pretensions of their milieu.

Their journey from insecurity to self-assuredness and snobbishness mirrors the transformation of social identity within the narrative's affluent circles.

Lady Caroline Sibly-Biers

Lady Caroline Sibly-Biers, an English socialite, epitomizes the arrogance and entitlement of her class. Her interactions with Dick, including an incident on Golding's yacht, accentuate cultural clashes and class-based tensions, highlighting the novel's exploration of social hierarchies.

Tender Is the Night narrates a man's slow decline and eventual downfall. At the beginning of the novel, Dick Diver is a promising young psychiatrist married to a former patient. Their relationship mirrors that of Fitzgerald and Zelda, with Diver acting as both lover and guardian to Nicole Warren. He becomes ensnared by the Warren family's wealth, which allows him to become a partner in a Swiss clinic. However, the allure of a lavish social life distracts him from his research. Eventually, he is ousted from the clinic as he loses passion for his work and turns to alcohol for escape. When Nicole leaves him for a charming European soldier of fortune, Diver attempts to revive his career in America but ultimately fades into obscurity as a small-town doctor.

Fitzgerald often insisted that the novel should not be seen merely as a portrayal of "Americans abroad," yet the characters do embody familiar American "types." Nicole and Dick, while partly inspired by the Murphys, exhibit what Andrew Turnbull describes as "their organized sensuousness, their fine gradations of charm." They clearly symbolize the author and Zelda, a comparison that disturbed Fitzgerald due to its suggestion of a lack of imagination and over-reliance on observed behavior. Nevertheless, these two essentially idle figures could easily represent numerous American expatriates in Europe during the 1920s and 1930s.

Even the supporting characters, like the actress Rosemary Hoyt, the professional soldier Tommy Barban, and the uncouth businessman Albert McKisko, can be seen as representations of real individuals who frequented areas of the Riviera and similar tourist spots. The novel's core conflict arises from these surrounding characters who either excessively admire or criticize and misinterpret the Divers and their unconventional lifestyle.

While Dick's descent into obscurity (contrasted with Nicole's fulfilling relationship with Tommy) is central to the novel, Nicole's transformation from a spoiled, wealthy, insecure, and even neurotic woman is equally significant to the story's thematic depth. Fitzgerald was fascinated by expatriates and understood the nature of individuals who became "uprooted" visitors in foreign lands. Therefore, the portrayal of alien settings is crucial to revealing how various characters respond to such influences and to advancing themes of waste and loss. These themes are so poignantly developed that Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings described the book as "disturbing, bitter, and beautiful."

The beauty of the story largely resides in its symmetrical structure. Although not as intricately crafted as The Great Gatsby (1925), it consistently focuses on Nicole and Dick, along with their circle of friends and acquaintances. This includes characters like the crass composer Abe North, whose death profoundly impacts the Divers, and Nicole's sister, Baby. Throughout, the narrative centers on Nicole's ascent and Dr. Diver's decline.

Dr. Diver's unraveling is depicted as a reflection of the flaws that accompany personal charm and talent. As Matthew Bruccoli insightfully notes, "The spectacle of Dick Diver's collapse is harrowing because he is destroyed by the same elements in his character that might have made him a great figure. His heroic aspirations dwindle into a fatal pleasingness." Fitzgerald himself categorized Tender is the Night as a philosophical or psychological novel and was delighted when a medical journal recognized it as contributing to the understanding of the psychobiological roots of human behavior. Although less focused than The Great Gatsby, the novel's expansiveness allows Fitzgerald to achieve insights through accumulation and what he described as "lingering after-effects." A pervasive mood of melancholy and regret echoes throughout the novel, mirroring Fitzgerald's own feelings about his career during that period.