* The American Wife: The story is told from her perspective, and she is unnamed. She is described as feeling restless, lonely, and longing for beauty and connection.
* The American Husband: He is a quiet, aloof, and seemingly indifferent to his wife's needs and feelings.
* The Old Man: A character at the hotel who appears briefly and offers the American Wife a cat. He symbolizes a sense of kindness and connection that is absent in the relationship between the American husband and wife.
While the story is focused on the American Wife, the husband's character is essential to understanding her feelings of loneliness and discontent. The old man serves as a foil, highlighting the lack of empathy and warmth in the husband's character.