Alraune

Alraune is the product of Ten Brinken's illicit experiments, a beautiful and perceptive woman whose allure draws men to ruin. She oscillates between longing and moral questioning, revealing genuine emotion despite a creator's accusations of soullessness. Her actions catalyze the moral crisis of the story, culminating in a dramatic confrontation and her eventual death. She embodies the tension between manipulated fate and personal choice.

A brilliant but morally compromised professor who conducts illicit artificial insemination experiments to create Alraune. He treats Alraune as an object of science and control, driven by hubris and possessiveness. His relentless pursuit of power leads to murder and his downfall, highlighting the dangers of playing God. He is arrested and hanged for the crime of his ‘child.’

A medical student who falls in love with Alraune and wrestles with the morality of her existence. He experiences a shift from fear and rejection to acceptance of her humanity, influencing the couple to consider elopement. His journey is one of moral awakening, where love challenges the scientist’s demonization of Alraune. He ultimately helps steer her toward self-determination before the tragedy closes in.

A noblewoman on the estate who represents the aristocratic social frame surrounding Ten Brinken’s experiments. She embodies the old order and serves as a witness to the ethical and moral consequences of the professor’s actions. Her presence highlights the tension between scholarly ambition and societal norms.

A member of the aristocratic circle around the Wolkonska family, whose position underscores the societal scrutiny faced by Ten Brinken’s project. She interacts with the main cast within the estate’s social web, reflecting the era’s upper-class concerns about reputation and propriety.

A nobleman entangled in the estate’s social and romantic intrigues. His presence demonstrates how Alraune’s influence extends into the upper echelons of society, complicating loyalties and amplifying the stakes of the love triangle.

A physician who manipulates events to gain attention from Alraune, framing others to escalate his own status. He orchestrates misdirections and participates in the scheme that leads to several deaths, underscoring the dangers of vanity and deceit in medical ethics. He becomes a dangerous foil as the truth unfolds.

A schoolteacher who is wrongfully accused of stealing Alraune’s necklace when the truth is later revealed. Her character underscores the theme of false accusation and the fragility of reputation within the social milieu of the estate. She is ultimately vindicated as deception is exposed.

The coachman who becomes entangled in Alraune’s seductive web, meeting a tragic end when his carriage falls off a cliff. His role demonstrates how the chain of desire and manipulation affects ordinary people who cross Alraune’s path.

A longtime retainer on the estate who navigates the complex social dynamics surrounding Ten Brinken and Alraune. He contributes to the atmosphere of the estate and the unfolding power plays without being central to the romance plot.

A servant on the estate who participates in the daily life and social machinery of Ten Brinken’s world. She provides a ground-level perspective on the drama and serves as part of the estate’s fabric.