The Enormous Room · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Enormous Room by E. E. Cummings.
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Narrator
major
Also known as me, I, myself, Edward Estlin Cummings, Cummings, young Cummings, Edward Cummings, Edward E. Cummings, Mr. Cummings, this Mr. Cummings
He arrives at La Ferté-Macé already delighted by iron doors and curious about a latrine can, treating incarceration as a puzzle of human traces left by Germans and Frenchmen before him. His mania for woodcuts and his habit of finishing a whistled tune from the next cell reveal a temperament that converts misery into observation. That appetite for detail is what makes the camp legible to us, and what keeps his own spirit oddly intact.
Jean le Nègre
major
Also known as Jean, Jean le Nègre, Jean munee, le Nègre, Captain Jean, Jean le noir, M'sieu Jean, Jean Caesar, Caesar, Vive Jean
He enters La Ferté-Macé distributing Cubebs to the last one, refusing thanks with a careless 'J'ne veux, moi,' and instantly becomes the finest figure in the narrator's memory. His flamboyance and sudden solemnity—'J'm'appelle Jean, moi'—command a room that usually guards its own blankets. Around him the camp's misère briefly becomes theater, and the narrator's eye finds in him a counterweight to the gray machinery of imprisonment.
The Fighting Sheeney
supporting
Also known as Sheeney, The Sheeney, the Sheeney, The Young Pole, Bill The Hollander, Bill, The Hollander, neighbour Bill, the sobbing Young Pole, Bill the Hollander, Whereat Bill The Hollander
He takes the Young Pole down a peg in the nightly Boxe he organizes upon The Trick Raincoat's arrival, a small act of order imposed on a volatile room. His friendship with a fellow pimp gives the camp a social texture beyond nationality, and his fists become a kind of rough justice. He matters because he shows how prison hierarchies are rebuilt from old trades and old grudges.
Surplice
supporting
Also known as Surplice
He is the man no one thinks to say goodbye to, yet he is always there—asking timidly 'Liberté, monsieur?' as others leave, submitting to The Butcher's dullest razor with shut eyes and patience. His quiet ecstasy at others' freedom, uncaring that le parti forgot him, exposes the camp's casual cruelties more sharply than any beating. He becomes the narrator's tender measure of what dignity looks like when no one is watching.
Monsieur Auguste
supporting
Also known as Harree, Monsieur Auguste Harree, Auguste, Harree the Hollander, Harree The Hollander, Pompom, Harree Pompom
He receives le fromage as a king might hold the best jewel of his realm, quivering with astonishment that anyone would offer it, then disappears with profuse thanks. His timidity and gratitude mark him as one of the camp's most vulnerable, bullied by men who desire Liberté with a terrible desire he can barely name. Through him the narrator measures how cheaply human happiness can be bought—and how much it costs.
The Zulu
supporting
Also known as Zulu, The Young Pole, Babysnatcher, Bill, Box, Young Pole, This Young Pole
He lies next to the Young Pole, chin protruding tranquilly from his blanket, eyes poking from beneath a cap he wears even in bed, regarding the vomiting tower of Bill The Hollander with abstracted interest. When the fight sends the Young Pole hurtling over his head, he remarks only 'Muh' and drifts back to retrieve his scattered cigarette. His unflappable stillness amid chaos makes him the camp's strangest barometer of what can and cannot touch a man.
B.
supporting
Also known as La Ferté . B., La Ferté, Neither B., The Zulu , B., The Zulu, B.
B. arrives at La Ferté alongside the narrator, and the two immediately become inseparable — sharing mattresses, meals, and the long nervous waits outside la commission's door. Their bond is the book's quiet center: through B., Cummings measures the camp not in cruelties but in the small conspiracies of two men killing time together. His presence makes the narrator's survival feel less like endurance and more like company.
La Soeur du Conducteur
minor
Also known as la soeur du conducteur
The sister of a train conductor, a fellow prisoner with a tragic story.
Monsieur le Directeur
supporting
Also known as the Directeur, The Directeur, Directeur, Le Directeur, Monsieur Le Directeur, le Directeur, the Directeur France
Monsieur le Directeur rules La Ferté through tantrums — bursting from doors, threatening everyone with infinite cabinot, trailed by his Black Holster. He is the human face of the bureaucratic machine that grinds prisoners down, yet his vanity and bluster render him almost comic. He matters because he embodies the arbitrary authority the narrator must survive without losing his own humanity.
Count Bragard
supporting
Also known as Count F. A. de Bragard, de Bragard, the utterly respectable Count Bragard, Count, Bragard
Count Bragard carries himself through La Ferté as though the camp were merely a regrettable inconvenience to a man of his station. His insistence on dignity in a place designed to strip it away creates a tension the narrator watches with amusement and something like pity. He represents the old world's illusions of rank, absurd and a little sad against the leveling squalor of the Enormous Room.
Celina
minor
Also known as the Normandy Autumn Celina, Lena, Celina, Celina Tek
A young woman from Normandy, a fellow prisoner with a romantic subplot.
Monsieur le Ministre
minor
Also known as Monsieur le Ministre de la Sûreté de Noyon, Noyon
A government minister who visits the camp briefly.
Surveillant
supporting
Also known as the Surveillant, The Surveillant, Monsieur le Surveillant, monsieur le Surveillant, M. le Surveillant
Surveillant occupies the middle rung of La Ferté's hierarchy — subordinate to the Directeur, superior to the plantons — and exercises his power with a leniency that surprises the narrator. He is not cruel, not without pity, and this modest decency in a system built on degradation becomes its own kind of moral event. His presence complicates the book's portrait of authority, insisting that even inside the machine, a man can choose to be kind.
The Wanderer
minor
Also known as Wanderer, VIII The Wanderer, O Wanderer
A mysterious, solitary prisoner who roams the camp.
The Trembling Planton
minor
Also known as Planton
A nervous young orderly who serves the prisoners.
Judas
minor
Also known as Judas
A prisoner nicknamed for his perceived betrayal of others.
Apollyon
minor
Also known as VI Apollyon, Apollyon
A menacing prisoner who embodies destruction and chaos.
Pete the Shadow
minor
Also known as Pete, Pete The Shadow, Pete The Hollander
A quiet, shadowy prisoner who keeps to himself.
Monsieur Pet-airs
minor
Also known as Monsieur Pet, Monsieur Pet - airs, Monsieur Pet - airs Lui - Même, Poor Monsieur Pet - airs
A comically pretentious prisoner with airs of grandeur.
Rockyfeller
minor
Also known as Rockyfeller
A prisoner nicknamed after the wealthy industrialist.
The Bear
minor
Also known as The Bear
A large, gruff prisoner with a bear-like demeanor.
The Hat
minor
Also known as The Hat, The pitiful Hat, the tragic Hat, Hat, Poor Old Hat
A prisoner defined by his distinctive, pathetic hat.
The Machine-Fixer
minor
Also known as the Machine - Fixer, the minute Machine - Fixer, Machine - Fixer, The little Machine - Fixer, The Machine - Fixer
A prisoner skilled at repairing mechanical devices.
The Black Holster
minor
Also known as the Black Holster, The Black Holster, Black Holster, Black
A prisoner known for his black holster accessory.
One Eyed Dah-veed
minor
Also known as One Eyed Dah - veed, Dah - veed
A prisoner with one eye, of possible Middle Eastern origin.
T-d
minor
Also known as T - d, Suddenly t - d, T - c
A prisoner with an abbreviated name.
The French
minor
Also known as the French, French
A generic French prisoner, possibly a collective character.
The Fencer
minor
Also known as The Fencer
A prisoner skilled in fencing.
The Young Skipper
minor
Also known as the Young Skipper, The Young Skipper
A young prisoner with a nautical nickname.
Monsieur Jean
minor
Also known as Jean, Monsieur Jean
A prisoner who assists the narrator, distinct from Jean le Nègre.
La Misère
minor
Also known as Mexique, La Misère Mexique, And Mexique
A prisoner from Mexico, known for his misery and poverty.
Garibaldi
minor
Also known as Garibaldi Italian, alias Garibaldi
An Italian prisoner who claims to be a relative of the famous general.
Gestionnaire
minor
Also known as the Gestionnaire, This Gestionnaire, Monsieur le Gestionnaire, The Gestionnaire
The camp administrator responsible for supplies and records.
Fritz
minor
Also known as Fritz
A German prisoner, often taunted by others.
The Clever Man
minor
Also known as The Clever Man
A prisoner known for his cunning and intelligence.
Afrique
minor
Also known as Afrique
A prisoner from Africa, noted for his singing.
Bon Alors
minor
Also known as Bon . Alors, Alors, Bon
A prisoner known for his repetitive French phrases.
The Priest
minor
Also known as the priest, The priest
A clergyman imprisoned among the men.
Edouard
minor
Also known as Edouard Kew - Mangz, Kew - Mangz
A prisoner with a peculiar name, possibly a musician.
Moshki
minor
Also known as the injured Moshki
A prisoner who is injured during his stay.
Shah-kay-spare
minor
Also known as Shah - kay - spare
A prisoner with an unusual, possibly Persian-sounding name.
Lily
minor
Also known as Lily
A female prisoner, possibly a love interest.
Renée
minor
Also known as Renée
A female prisoner mentioned in passing.
The Englishman
minor
Also known as The Englishman
A British prisoner in the camp.
Mr. A.
minor
Also known as Mr. A.
A prisoner referred to only by his initial.
The Guard Champêtre
minor
Also known as the Guard Champêtre, The Guard Champêtre
A rural guard who escorts prisoners.
Feeneesh Loo Loo
minor
Also known as Feeneesh Loo Loo
A prisoner with a comical, nonsensical name.
Bathhouse John
minor
Also known as Bathhouse John
A prisoner nicknamed after a Chicago politician.
Lulu
minor
Also known as Lulu
A female prisoner, possibly a prostitute.
De Massachusetts
minor
Also known as De Massachusetts
A prisoner from Massachusetts, likely American.
The Barber
minor
Also known as The Barber
A prisoner who cuts hair in the camp.
The Trick Raincoat
minor
Also known as The Trick Raincoat, The Trick, the Raincoat, Raincoat, the Trick Raincoat
A prisoner known for his unusual raincoat.
Barbu
minor
Also known as Barbu
A bearded prisoner, his name meaning 'bearded' in French.
The Butcher
minor
Also known as The Butcher
A prisoner who worked as a butcher.
Cornelius Vanderbilt
minor
Also known as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Cornelius
A prisoner nicknamed after the wealthy tycoon.
Précigne
minor
Also known as Précigne, Pom Pom bien entendu, Pom Pom, Précigne of Pom Pom
A prisoner from a place called Pom Pom.
Germans
minor
Also known as Germans, the Germans
German prisoners in the camp, often a collective.
Jack
minor
Also known as Jack, Johnny
A prisoner with a common English name.
Monsieur Richard
minor
Also known as Monsieur Richard
A prisoner with a French name.
The Frog
minor
Also known as The Frog
A prisoner nicknamed for his frog-like appearance.
Peters
minor
Also known as Peters, Poor Peters, Monsieur Peters
A prisoner with a common surname.
The Imp
minor
Also known as The Imp, the Imp
A mischievous, imp-like prisoner.
Caesar Augustus
minor
Also known as Caesar Augustus, Caesar
A prisoner with a grandiose Roman name.
Attends
minor
Also known as Attends
A prisoner known for saying 'attends' (wait).
The Silent Man
minor
Also known as The Silent Man
A prisoner who rarely speaks.
Tommy
minor
Also known as Tommy
A prisoner with a common English nickname.
Monsieur
minor
Also known as Monsieur
A generic French gentleman, possibly a guard.
Turnkey-creature
minor
Also known as Turnkey - creature
A jailer or guard in the camp.
Monsieur Savy
minor
Also known as Monsieur Savy
A prisoner with a French name.
The Hollanders
minor
Also known as the Hollanders, The Hollanders, only Hollanders
Dutch prisoners in the camp.
Joseph Demestre
minor
Also known as Joseph, Demestre
A prisoner with a French name.
Jo Jo
minor
Also known as Jo Jo The Lion Faced Boy, Jo Jo
A prisoner with a lion-like face, possibly a sideshow performer.
Jove
minor
Also known as Jove
A prisoner nicknamed after the Roman god.
Margherite
minor
Also known as Margherite
A female prisoner.
Ambulance Norton Harjes
minor
Also known as Ambulance Norton Harjes, Norton - Harjes, Norton Harjes
A reference to the ambulance service, not a person.
The Belgian
minor
Also known as the Belgian, Belgian
A Belgian prisoner.
John the Bathman
minor
Also known as John the Bathman, John, John The Bathman, John the Baigneur, John le Baigneur
A prisoner who works as a bath attendant.
Moi parlez anglais
minor
Also known as Moi parlez anglais, Moi
A prisoner who speaks broken English.
Mr. President
minor
Also known as Mr. President
A prisoner mockingly called Mr. President.
W⸺ S⸺ B⸺
minor
Also known as W⸺ S⸺ B⸺, B⸺
A prisoner with initials, possibly a friend of the narrator.
Klang
minor
Also known as Klang
A prisoner with a German-sounding name.
Jawnee
minor
Also known as Jawnee
A prisoner with a phonetic nickname.
Richard Norton
minor
Also known as Richard Norton, Richard
A friend of the narrator, not a prisoner.
Ça Pue
minor
Also known as Ça Pue
A prisoner nicknamed 'it stinks' in French.
The Young Russian
minor
Also known as The Young Russian, the Young Russian, Russian
A young Russian prisoner.
La Ferté Macé
minor
Also known as La Ferté Macé, La Ferté
The town where the prison is located, not a person.
The Norwegian
minor
Also known as the Norwegian, The Norwegian, Norwegian
A Norwegian prisoner.
