"The happiest sound in all the world!"
The Sound of Music - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Maria
Julie Andrews
Motivation
To find God's will for her life and to bring joy and music to those around her.
Character Arc
Starts as a naive, impulsive postulant unsure of her place. Through her time as a governess, she matures, learning that loving a man and a family is as holy a vocation as being a nun. She brings life back to the von Trapp household.
Captain Georg von Trapp
Christopher Plummer
Motivation
Initially to maintain order and hide from grief; later to protect his family and his country's integrity.
Character Arc
Begins as a cold, grief-stricken authoritarian who shuts out love to avoid pain. Maria's influence melts his defenses, restoring him to a loving father and a passionate patriot who defies tyranny.
Max Detweiler
Richard Haydn
Motivation
Self-preservation and commercial success.
Character Arc
Serves as a foil to the Captain. He is charming but politically opportunistic, willing to compromise with the Nazis ('appeasement') to survive and prosper. However, he ultimately aids the family's escape.
Baroness Elsa Schraeder
Eleanor Parker
Motivation
Social standing and a practical marriage.
Character Arc
Represents the wealthy, sophisticated, but superficial world the Captain thinks he belongs to. She graciously bows out when she realizes the Captain loves Maria and that she cannot share his anti-Nazi stance.