The Dinner: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Dinner: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the complex relationships and moral dilemmas faced by the characters during a pivotal dinner gathering. The narrative centers on Paul Lohman, who serves as the unreliable narrator, revealing his critical and violent tendencies towards those around him, particularly his brother Serge. Serge is depicted as a charismatic politician, yet Paul views him as hypocritical, creating tension within their familial dynamic. Paul’s wife, Claire, initially appears supportive but later exhibits a complicity in protecting their son, Michel, who has committed a heinous crime without remorse. Michel's actions, alongside those of his cousin Rick, highlight themes of bullying and moral ambiguity, while Beau, the adopted son, grapples with identity and familial acceptance amidst the chaos. Babette, Serge’s wife, remains largely in the background but is deeply concerned about her husband’s political aspirations as the truth unfolds. The interactions between these characters uncover layers of denial, complicity, and the struggle to confront uncomfortable truths, making it a rich exploration of familial loyalty and ethical choices.
The Dinner: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Herman Koch
First published: 2013
Genre: Novel
Locale: An Amsterdam restaurant
Plot: Fiction; character study
Time: Contemporary
Paul Lohman, a married, middle-aged father; the narrator. As a narrator, Paul Lohman is unreliable, though, as with most unreliable narrators, it takes some time to understand this. Paul is highly critical of the people in his life except for his wife and son. Paul hates his brother, Serge, whom he considers to be a sanctimonious fake. Paul is always comparing his own life with those of “normal” people, (or a normal father) and he has a constant inner dialogue full of criticism for anyone he comes in contact with. He is a high school history teacher who is suspended after he makes inappropriate remarks to students. He often daydreams about the violence he is going mete out to anyone who crosses him, or even tries to reason with him. For him, such people are of lower intelligence. If fact, Paul is diagnosed with a neurological personality disorder and, while he tries medication, he doesn't like the side effects and discontinues taking it. He goes so far as to severely beat his son's high school principal after his son turns in a controversial paper. Paul does not see why his son's actions in killing a homeless woman are criminal, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his son, Michel, from being found out. In a great ironical twist, Paul learns that his wife's thinking is more perverse than his own.
Serge Lohman, Paul's brother and a candidate for Prime Minister. A gregarious man with a “can- do” attitude, Serge is only described through Paul's perspective, which is heavily skewed. According to Paul, Serge is sanctimonious and a braggart. It's easy to see that Serge is well liked. The restaurant owner and his staff are deferential. Other patrons want their pictures taken with Serge, who is the front-runner in the upcoming race for Prime Minister. He is treated like royalty. Of the four adults, Serge is the mature and honest one—the one with a conscience. He recognizes that his son and nephew have committed a crime, and he must quit the race before his son's guilt is discovered. The other three adults are more concerned with Serge's plans to disclose their sons' crime than they are about their sons' morality, or their victims.
Claire Lohman, Paul's wife. At first, Claire seems to be a happy wife and mother who loves her husband and son. However, as the action unfolds, it becomes clear that she knows much more about her son's crimes than anyone knew. In fact, once she learns about Michel's actions, (burning a homeless woman to death), she works to cover them up and to advise him about how he can protect himself from any consequences. (She also keeps the incident from being discovered by her husband.) She goes so far as to advise her son to do whatever is necessary to protect himself, even if it means harming or even killing his cousin, Beau, who is trying to blackmail him.
Babette Lohman, Serge's wife. Babette lives in the background of her husband's life—the dutiful wife of a popular politician. She is an attractive woman with a sort of perfect harmony to her figure, even though she is a tall, large woman. When she appears at the dinner, it is clear she has been crying. She wears dark sunglasses and her eyes are red-rimmed and teary. Until the night of the dinner, she is the only one who had no clue about the crimes their children were committing. Although Babette is concerned for her son, her primary concern at the dinner is Serge's plan to give up his political career, and she wants Claire and Paul to help convince him not to.
Michel Lohman, Paul and Claire's son. Michel is a bully who enjoys picking on the homeless. One night he goes so far as to set a woman on fire, killing her. Though the fire is accidental, Michel never understands that he has committed a crime. Never does he express regret or remorse, only some anxiety about being caught. He bullies his cousins, Rick and Beau, and clearly displays the same sick personality traits as his father.
Rick Lohman, Serge and Babette's son. Rick is a teenage “follower,” allowing himself to be led by Michel's sick ideas about how to have fun. Paul describes Rick as a “subservient goon.” However, according to Serge, Rick's guilty conscience is beginning to plague him. He can't sleep and his grades are declining. His father's advice is to admit his mistake, pay for his crime, then move on with the rest of his life. That's the only way Rick can free himself from his past.
Beau (a.k.a. Faso) Lohman, Serge and Babette's adopted son. As an adopted son, Beau struggles with his identity. Not only is he adopted, but he is also African, living in a white family in a white culture. While Serge and Babette do all they can to make him feel included and loved, Beau's brother and cousin taunt him, naming his “Faso,” (after Burkina Faso, the country of his birth.) Beau is also a fighter. After Beau learns of his brother and cousin's crimes, he threatens to reveal their secrets if they don't pay him a significant amount of money. Dire consequences follow as the remorseless boys teach Faso a lesson.
Van Dieren, the school psychologist who advises Paul about his possible neurological disorder that causes his uncontrollable anger and aggression.
Mr. Breedved, Paul and Claire's neighbor. When Michel comes home with a stack of records, he reveals to Paul that their neighbor, Mr. Breedved, has kids over to listen to music. Paul enters Breedved's home and destroys his record collection. Breedved moves away within the week.
Valerie Lohman, Serge and Babette's daughter. Valerie is a slightly autistic 13-year-old beauty with translucent skin.