The Luncheon Characters

The central male character of the story, a young writer living in poverty in Paris at the start of his career. He is polite and gentle by nature, which the female guest exploits to her advantage. His fear, helplessness, and inner shame drive much of the story's humor. In the end, he finds sardonic revenge in remarking on the woman's enormous weight.

The main female character of the story, who repeatedly claims to eat very little while continuously ordering expensive dishes such as caviar, salmon, asparagus, ice-cream, and peaches. She fully satisfies her own desires without any consideration for the young writer's financial hardship. Her hypocrisy and inconsistency are the primary sources of humor and satire. She represents the false and pretentious side of society.

A restaurant worker who happily serves everything the woman orders, motivated by the benefit it brings to the restaurant. He enthusiastically offers salmon, caviar, asparagus, and more. His smile often feels artificial and performative. He represents the economic reality in which the customer's wishes are always prioritised.

Appears near the end of the story presenting expensive out-of-season peaches, further inflating the narrator's bill. His false smile heightens the narrator's financial distress. He represents the commercial and profit-driven mindset of the restaurant business.