The Seven Year Itch

A middle-aged publishing executive in New York City who becomes consumed by temptation during a hot summer. He alternates between rational restraint and vivid fantasies of other women's attention, revealing a fragile sense of control and mounting guilt. His inner conflict threads through his interactions, from the book discussion with Dr. Brubaker to the impulsive invitation extended to the upstairs neighbor.

An unnamed commercial actress and former model who sublets the upstairs apartment. She embodies innocent allure that triggers Richard's fantasies, yet she remains naïve and unaware of the full implications of his interest. Her presence collides with the reality of a modern, image-driven culture.

A psychiatrist whose book on the 'seven year itch' provides the backdrop for Richard's introspection, but he offers little practical advice to curb temptation. He serves as a theoretical foil to the protagonist's struggles, urging analysis without delivering a cure. His intersection with the plot frames the tension between science and lived experience.

Richard's wife, who spends the summer in Ogunquit with their son. She represents loyalty and the social expectations of marriage, absorbing and reacting to the rumors of a potential affair without being privy to every detail. She embodies the domestic ideal that Richard fears betraying.

Richard's writer friend who is mentioned as a potential romantic rival in Maine. He personifies the external temptation and creative energy that piques Richard's insecurities. His presence heightens the sense that relationships and fidelity are subject to social pressures and envy.

Richard and Helen's son, who spends part of the summer away with his mother in Ogunquit. His paddle incident with the upstairs neighbor serves as the catalyst that unsettles Richard's naively optimistic control over his life. His presence anchors the family dynamic amidst Richard's inner turmoil.