Darkness at Noon Characters

Rubashov was, before the time at which Darkness at Noon begins, a key player in the socialist revolution of the unnamed fatherland, and an important member of the “old guard” that became the leaders of… read analysis of Nicholas Salmanovitch Rubashov

Rubashov’s friend from university and former battalion commander, Ivanov is also Rubashov’s first interrogator after his imprisonment. Ivanov is another member of the old guard, one who remembers the Civil War: during the fighting… read analysis of Ivanov

In many ways Gletkin, who is first Ivanov’s subordinate and then replaces him as Rubashov’s interrogator, serves a foil to Ivanov. Where Ivanov is pragmatic and ironic, Gletkin is earnest and grave. For… read analysis of Gletkin

Rubashov’s former secretary and lover, Arlova appears in the novel in flashback form, as Rubashov recalls his affair with her. She is large, womanly, and passive: she doesn’t ask anything of Rubashov and she… read analysis of Arlova

The local leader of the dockworkers’ section of the Party at a port in Belgium, Little Loewy is yet another former Party member that Rubashov sacrifices to the cause, though this time in a more… read analysis of Little Loewy

Rubashov’s porter and fellow soldier during the Civil War, Wassilij is an old man by the time Darkness at Noon opens. He is deeply loyal to Rubashov, and also is one of the few… read analysis of Wassilij

Wassilij’s daughter, Vera works at the town factory, where she’s become engaged to a young mechanic. She is a fervent believer in the Party and believes everything that she is told by the authorities… read analysis of Vera Wassiljovna

402 is the prisoner occupying the cell next to Rubashov, whose name we never learn. 402 is, from what he says, a reactionary—that is, a supporter of the monarchy that the Revolution dismantled. He… read analysis of No. 402

Another fellow prisoner, who seems to be especially interested in Rubashov from the start, though Rubashov isn’t certain why. Eventually, it becomes clear that Hare-lip is the son of Professor Kieffer, an old friend… read analysis of Hare-lip (Young Kieffer)

A famous historian of the Revolution, and once No. 1’s closest friend, Kieffer was also quite close to Rubashov. He works on No. 1’s biography for ten years, but when certain changes are… read analysis of Professor Kieffer

The Party leader and a clear stand-in for Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. While No. 1 never appears in person in the novel, his portrait hangs over almost every room, implying his… read analysis of No. 1

A former army commander, Bogrov was Rubashov’s roommate when they were in exile after 1905 (the year of the failed Russian Revolution against the monarchy). Bogrov served as Rubashov’s intellectual mentor. Bogrov is imprisoned… read analysis of Michael Bogrov

A former sociology teacher in a country somewhere in southeastern Europe, this character was imprisoned there after participating in its own communist revolution and spent 20 years in prison. After being released, he came to… read analysis of No. 406 (Rip Van Winkle)