The Night Circus

by

Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus Characters

Celia Bowen

Celia Bowen is an illusionist with Le Cirque des Rêves, the titular night circus; her performances in the circus are part of her competition with her fellow magician, Marco Alisdair. Celia met her… read analysis of Celia Bowen

Marco Alisdair

Marco Alisdair works as the assistant to Chandresh Lefevre, the original organizer of Le Cirque des Rêves. He is also involved in a high-stakes competition with Celia Bowen, orchestrated by their guardians… read analysis of Marco Alisdair

Alexander / Mr. A.H.

Known to many of the other characters in the novel as the mysterious man in the gray suit, Mr. A.H. is a magician, as well as Hector Bowen’s greatest rival. He and Hector have… read analysis of Alexander / Mr. A.H.

Hector Bowen / Prospero the Enchanter

Known publicly as Prospero the Enchanter, Hector Bowen is a magician who has made his living performing for audiences that do not understand that his magic is real, and not just a skillful illusion or… read analysis of Hector Bowen / Prospero the Enchanter

Chandresh Lefevre

Chandresh Christophe Lefevre is a successful theater producer who, in search of a new and exciting project, came up with the idea of a new kind of circus. He built a cadre of some of… read analysis of Chandresh Lefevre
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Isobel Martin

Trained as a clairvoyant and fortune-teller, Isobel Martin becomes part of Le Cirque des Rêves via her relationship with Marco Alisdair. They meet for the first time in London, when Marco realizes that he… read analysis of Isobel Martin

Tsukiko

A mysterious and very skilled contortionist, Tsukiko arrives unannounced at the home of Chandresh Lefevre to perform for the theater producer, and is immediately hired to join his new project, Le Cirque des Rêvesread analysis of Tsukiko

Friedrick Thiessen

Clockmaker Herr Thiessen was commissioned by Ethan Burris to design a dreamlike clock to stand in the center of Le Cirque des Rêves. Thiessen designs the clock without knowing where it will be used… read analysis of Friedrick Thiessen

Ethan Barris

An engineer and one of the original organizers of Le Cirque des Rêves, and one of the few people who know about the competition between Marco and Celia. In fact, it is through… read analysis of Ethan Barris

Tara Burgess

Sisters and librarians who will only talk about their past when intoxicated, Tara and Lainie Burgess are original organizers of Le Cirque des Rêves, though their role in the project is unclear, beyond Chandreshread analysis of Tara Burgess

Lainie Burgess

Lainie is one of the original organizers of Le Cirque des Rêves, along with her sister, Tara. The sisters’ role in the project is somewhat hazy, though Chandresh Lefevre claims that they are… read analysis of Lainie Burgess

Widget Murray

Winston Aidan Murray and Penelope Aislin Murray, better known as Widget and Poppet, were born in Le Cirque des Rêves on opening night. The time and place of their birth somehow endowed them with supernatural… read analysis of Widget Murray

Poppet Murray

Winston Aidan Murray and Penelope Aislin Murray, better known as Widget and Poppet, were born in Le Cirque des Rêves on opening night. Poppet can see the future, as the time and place of the… read analysis of Poppet Murray

Bailey Clarke

A young boy from Concord, Massachusetts, Bailey becomes obsessed with Le Cirque des Rêves and eventually becomes the new proprietor after Celia and Marco disappear into the bonfire and can no longer run the circus… read analysis of Bailey Clarke

Victor

A loyal fan of the circus and member of the rêveur community, whom Bailey meets at a train station while trying to catch up with the circus. Victor and fellow rêveurs Lorena and Elizabeth take… read analysis of Victor

Elizabeth

A member of the rêveurs and a friend of Victor and Lorena’s, whom Bailey meets on the train to Boston. Welcoming him to the group, Elizabeth tells Bailey that a rêveur is simply someone… read analysis of Elizabeth
Minor Characters
Lorena
One of the circus’s many devoted followers, or rêveurs. Lorena and her friends Victor and Elizabeth warmly welcome Bailey into the rêveur community while in Boston, allowing him to feel like part of a family.
Madame Ana "Tante" Padva
Madame Ana Padva, nicknamed Tante, is a retired Romanian prima ballerina. She was close friends with Chandresh's mother. Madame Padva is a regular attendee at Chandresh's Midnight Dinners.