Who are the main characters in Open City? How are they depicted?

Open City is a character study of one character: a Nigerian-American male doctor named Julius. He is the only true main character in the book. All of the other characters are thus seen from his point of view, and through the lens of his opinions about them.

Julius is in his early thirties, and is completing a residency in psychiatry in New York City. He is quiet, introspective, and has a great deal of empathy for and interest in other human beings. The most prominent relationships he has in the novel are with Nadege, his girlfriend, and Professor Saito, a retired teacher of literature.

Nadege is a black woman of about Julius's age. She is kind and assertive. She has just moved to San Francisco as the novel begins, and Julius slowly realizes their relationship is over.

Professor Saito is one of Julius's old teachers. He is a peaceful and mellow elderly man. His death saddens Julius greatly.