The Apartment - Characters & Cast

Initially, Bud is motivated purely by ambition and the desire to climb the corporate ladder at Consolidated Life insurance company. He craves success to escape his anonymous, lonely existence. This motivation shifts as he falls for Fran, and his primary goal becomes protecting her and winning her affection, leading him to prioritize his personal values over his career.

Bud begins as a lonely, ambitious but morally flexible pushover, eager to please his superiors for a promotion. He is a passive participant in a corrupt system. His arc is a journey towards moral awakening, spurred by his love for Fran and the realization of the human cost of his complicity. By nursing Fran back to health, he discovers his own capacity for empathy and courage, culminating in his decision to quit his job and become a "mensch" (a good person), choosing integrity over success.

Fran is motivated by a deep-seated desire to be loved, which unfortunately leads her into a self-destructive affair with the married Sheldrake, who she hopes will leave his wife for her. She is a self-proclaimed person who "gets took." Her motivation evolves as she experiences Bud's kindness, shifting from a desperate need for Sheldrake's approval to a desire for the genuine connection Bud offers.

Fran is introduced as a quirky, charming, and seemingly cheerful elevator operator. However, beneath this exterior, she is deeply melancholic and vulnerable, repeatedly falling for the wrong men who take advantage of her. Her arc involves recognizing her own worth. After her suicide attempt and recovery under Bud's care, she realizes the difference between Sheldrake's manipulative affection and Bud's genuine love. Her final act of leaving Sheldrake to be with Bud signifies her choosing a healthier, more respectful relationship and taking control of her own happiness.

Sheldrake is motivated by selfishness and a sense of entitlement. His primary drivers are satisfying his own desires—whether for extramarital affairs or maintaining his powerful corporate position—with minimal consequences to himself. He leverages his authority to exploit those beneath him, showing a sociopathic lack of empathy for the emotional damage he causes.

Sheldrake is a static character who experiences no positive growth. He is a suave, charming, and utterly ruthless personnel director who views people as disposable commodities to be used for his own gain. He manipulates Bud for his apartment and strings Fran along with false promises. Even when his actions lead to Fran's suicide attempt, he shows little remorse, his primary concern being his own convenience and reputation. He ends the film as he began: a powerful, cynical, and morally bankrupt man, though he has lost both his mistress and his most useful subordinate.