Literary characters are often described as either round or flat. Round characters are fully developed, have personalities and traits much like real people, and show some change or growth over the course of the story. The main characters of a story are usually round. Flat characters, on the other hand, are less well developed and remain unchanged throughout the story. Of the main characters—Des Grieux, Manon, Tiberge, and Lescaut—which are round and which are flat?

Manon Lescaut has been adapted to the theater, ballet, and opera. If you were responsible for a film adaptation of the story, what actors would you choose to portray the main characters? Why would these actors be best suited for these roles?

Though Manon is the title character, Des Grieux is the protagonist, and the vast majority of the story is told from his perspective, in his voice. What might be different about this story if it was told by Manon?