Marcel is an observant, nostalgic individual who recalls his youth in the French town of Combray. He suffers from persistent insomnia and finds intense emotional resonance in sensory experiences, such as dipping a madeleine in hot tea. He spends much of his time analyzing the behaviors of the adults around him and relies on literature to understand human emotion. He often projects his own romantic ideals onto the people he admires.

Charles Swann is a wealthy, intelligent aristocrat who maintains high social standing while frequently associating with middle-class circles. Despite his wit and reputation as an experienced man of the world, he suffers from intense sentimentality. He becomes fiercely infatuated with Odette, allowing his desire to dictate his social actions and disrupt his emotional stability.

Odette is an ambitious, middle-class courtesan who frequents the Verdurins' salon. She defies the restrictive expectations of early 20th-century French society, living according to her own desires rather than adhering to strict moral codes. Initially unremarkable to Swann, she actively pursues his attention before establishing a dynamic where she holds significant power over his emotions.

Léonie is Marcel's wealthy, eccentric aunt who lives in Combray. Following the death of her husband, she withdraws from public life, confining herself to her bedroom. She focuses heavily on her self-diagnosed ailments and relies entirely on gossip from her servants and friends to stay connected to the outside world.

Gilberte is the young daughter of Charles Swann and Odette. She is a schoolgirl in Paris who frequently plays in the Champs-Elysées park with her friends. Marcel projects his intense romantic ideals onto her, though she often responds to his fixation with a casual indifference.

She is a comforting, essential presence in Marcel's early life. She attempts to balance her husband's strict expectations with her son's nervous disposition, occasionally bending the rules to provide Marcel with the emotional reassurance he desperately seeks in the dark.

Marcel's father is a strict figure who enforces rules and social decorum in the household. Despite his general sternness, he occasionally surprises his family by showing unexpected leniency, such as allowing his wife to sleep in Marcel's room during a particularly bad bout of anxiety.

Françoise is a dedicated and protective servant who initially works for Aunt Léonie before moving to serve Marcel's parents. She is fiercely loyal to her employers and possesses a strong sense of hierarchy, making efforts to elevate herself above other working-class individuals.

Vinteuil is a sensitive, fussy musician and composer who lives a quiet life. He writes a melancholic sonata that later becomes a symbol of romance for Swann. He dotes on his daughter and suffers greatly over local rumors regarding her behavior.

She is the orphaned daughter of the composer Vinteuil. She engages in relationships that cause scandal in her local community, openly mocking her late father's memory in private moments observed by a young Marcel.

She is a superficial, pretentious hostess who demands absolute loyalty from the guests at her salon. She actively attempts to control the social lives of her attendees, pushing Swann out of her circle when he fails to conform to her expectations.

He is Marcel's uncle, a man with a love of literature who maintains a private life involving courtesans. His relationship with his family fractures after an awkward incident involving his young nephew exposes his habits.

Forcheville is a titled man favored by Madame Verdurin as a more suitable match for Odette than Swann. He is confident and direct, quickly becoming the primary source of Swann's intense jealousy.

He is an aristocratic friend of Charles Swann. Swann asks him to run errands and speak highly of him to Odette during periods of romantic estrangement, trusting him not to pose a romantic threat.

Bloch is a young man who shares Marcel's deep appreciation for the writer Bergotte. He is banished from Marcel's family home after making inappropriate comments about Aunt Léonie's youth, though Marcel continues to value his friendship.

Legrandin is a snobbish acquaintance of Marcel's parents who secretly considers himself socially superior to them. He goes out of his way to avoid introducing the family to his more well-connected relatives.

Eulalie is a deeply religious woman who serves as Aunt Léonie's primary source of gossip from the outside world. Her frequent visits and the financial gifts she receives from Léonie spark a quiet rivalry with the maid Françoise.

He is a stern patriarch in the Combray household. He holds firm boundaries regarding propriety and reputation, refusing to recommend Charles Swann to others due to his knowledge of Swann's indiscretions.

She is a kindly presence during Marcel's youth in Combray. She encourages her grandson's love for reading by gifting him literature, providing a foundation for his romantic view of the world.