The Silent Patient Characters

Theo Faber, the first-person narrator of The Silent Patient, is a skilled psychotherapist. Having been raised by an abusive father, Theo finds solace in talk therapy; he so idolizes Ruth, his psychologist, that… read analysis of Theo Faber

Nearly every other character in the novel is in some way connected to Alicia Berenson. She is wife to Gabriel and sister-in-law to Max; she is Vernon and Eva Rose’s daughter, Lydia Rose… read analysis of Alicia Berenson

Gabriel Berenson is Alicia’s husband, Max’s younger brother, and Kathy Faber’s secret lover. As a professional fashion photographer, Gabriel lives a glamorous, artistic life; like many of the people around him, Alicia… read analysis of Gabriel Berenson

Kathy Faber is Theo’s wife. Having met when they were both dating other people, Kathy and Theo fell in “love at first sight”; Theo is enchanted by Kathy’s warmth and laughter, and he feels… read analysis of Kathy Faber

Jean-Felix is Alicia’s gallerist—and her oldest friend. In the weeks leading up to Gabriel’s murder, however, Alicia tries to cut ties with Jean-Felix, explaining that she feels that he is using her for… read analysis of Jean-Felix Martin

Paul Rose is Alicia’s younger cousin, Lydia’s son, and Vernon’s nephew. Though as a young boy he adored Alicia, in recent years, Paul has lost touch with his cousin—the only time he… read analysis of Paul Rose

Lydia Rose is Alicia’s aunt, Paul’s father, and Vernon’s sister. Lydia is physically fearsome and very overweight; her weight becomes a subject of caricature in Alicia’s painting, and the resulting artwork drives… read analysis of Lydia Rose

Vernon Rose is Alicia’s father and Lydia Rose’s brother. Vernon was deeply devoted to his wife Eva, Alicia’s mother—and when Eva killed herself, Vernon told Alicia that he wished she had died… read analysis of Vernon Rose

Eva Rose is Alicia’s mother and Vernon Rose’s wife. Always troubled (and often dependent on alcohol), Alicia killed herself when she was 32 years old by driving into a brick wall—with a young… read analysis of Eva Rose

Ruth is Theo’s long-time therapist, whom he met in college. Ruth helps Theo work through his traumatic upbringing, shedding the tears Theo cannot when he describes his father’s abusive behavior. Years after their therapeutic… read analysis of Ruth

Professor Diomedes is the head of psychology at the Grove, which means he also acts as supervisor to Theo, Christian, Indira, and Yuri. Diomedes is known for his slightly unconventional embrace… read analysis of Lazarus Diomedes

Christian is one of the therapists at the Grove; he also worked with Theo in his previous job at the Broadmoor clinic. Christian often antagonizes Theo, implying that his relationship with Alicia is inappropriate (“borderlines… read analysis of Christian West

Indira Sharma is one of the therapists at the Grove. She is the person who interviews Theo for his new job, and as such, she often acts as an informal mentor and guide. Indira supports… read analysis of Indira Sharma

Yuri, an immigrant from Latvia, is the kindly head nurse at the Grove. He is particularly fond of Alicia, and he tends to act as a go-between for Alicia and Theo. Yuri is… read analysis of Yuri

Elif is one of the patients at the Grove. She is a physically imposing, erratic woman; Theo quickly learns that she has been placed in the Grove for suffocating both her sister and her mother… read analysis of Elif

Barbie Hellman is a wealthy American divorcee. She lives next door to Alicia and Gabriel Berenson at the time of the murder, and she is the one who hears gunshots and calls the police. Though… read analysis of Barbie Hellman

Tanya Berenson is Max Berenson’s receptionist and wife; they met when she started working in his office and married in the aftermath of Gabriel’s tragic death. Theo notices that Tanya is “afraid” of… read analysis of Tanya Berenson

Stephanie Clarke is the manager of the Grove, who arrives a few months before Theo does. Diomedes distrusts Stephanie, believing her to be “in league” with the wealthy Trust that helps to fund the Grove… read analysis of Stephanie Clarke

Rowena Hart is the art therapist at the Grove. Though she is technically one of Alicia’s therapists, she resents her, in part because she is jealous of Alicia’s superior skill as a painter. Theo… read analysis of Rowena Hart

Chief Inspector Steven Allen is the detective in charge of solving the attempted murder of Alicia Berenson. Though he initially suspects Christian West of the crime, after he reads Alicia’s diary, Inspector Allen shifts… read analysis of Chief Inspector Steven Allen