Trainspotting - Charcter Breakdown

Mark Renton

Mark renton is a scottish heroin addict and the main protagonist of the film. He narrates the film and we tend to root for him throughout the film. He is a typical heroin addict who always says hell get off of it but never does. He is the character who delivers some of the most iconic lines in the movie. Half way through the movie he gets off with an underage girl, diane, and moves to central london.
Quotes :

•  Straight away he clocked us for what we were. Small time wasters with an accidental big deal
• It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference
• Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?
• We would have injected vitamin C if only they had made it illegal !
• Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?

Sick Boy

Sick boy is also a heroin addict. His character is usually a bit cocky and tends to patronise Mark. He has a child with Alisson, but due to their neglect the baby dies half way through the film. He is behaviour is 'ladish' and he tends to sell peoples things, like when he sells marks tv and offers to sell his passport. He thinks he is professional but tends to be a bit dim and gullible.
Quotes:

Sick Boy: All I'm trying to do is help you understand that The Name of the Rose is merely a blip on an otherwise uninterrupted downward trajectory.

• Mark Renton: What about The Untouchables?
  Sick Boy: I don't rate that at all.
  Mark Renton: Despite the Academy award?
  Mark Renton: Despite the Academy Award?
  Sick Boy: That means fuck all. The sympathy vote.
• Personality, I mean that's what counts, right? That's what keeps a relationship going through the years. Like heroin, I mean heroin's got a great fucking personality.
• Well, at one time you've got it, and then you lose it and it's gone forever.
• for a vegetarian , Rents, your a fucking evil shot. 

Spud

Spud is also a heroin addict who probably has the strongest addiction to the stuff out of the whole crew. Spud is a very dim character who ends up going to prison halfway through the film. He knows what he's doing is wrong but he can't resist as most heroin addicts.
Quotes :

1st Interviewer: Mr. Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?

• Spud: No! Uh. Yes. Only to get my foot in the door. Showing initiative and that like.
  1st Interviewer: But you were referred here by the department of employment, there was no need for you to get your "foot in the door," as you put it.
  Spud: Ehhh... cool. Whatever you say, I'm sorry. You're the man. The dude in the chair.
• In a word: pleasure. It's like, my pleasure in other people's leisure.
• Tommy: How's it going with Gail?
  Spud: No joy yet.
  Tommy: How long is it?
  Spud: Six weeks.
  Tommy: Six weeks!
  Spud: It's a nightmare. She told me she didn't want our relationship to start on a physical basis as that is how it would be principally defined from then on in.
  Tommy: Where did she come up with that?
  Spud: She read it in Cosmopolitan.
  Tommy: Six weeks and no sex?
  Spud: I've got balls like watermelons, I'm telling you.

Tommy

Tommy is one of the few characters who starts off the movie clean. He seems to have a good life, a girlfriend, in good shape and is the only one of the other people who seems like a decent person. When his girlfriend discovers her sex tape is gone she dumps him and as a result Tommy goes into a decline and starts to try heroin.
Quotes :

• Doesn't it make you proud to be scottish
• The ultimate hit mark, better than sex
• I'm an adult I can find it myself

Begbie

Begbie never tries drugs throughout the movie. Begbie is probably one of the scariest people in the movie. He has a high temper and isn't afraid of violence. He repeatedly hurts people for very small things. Begbie despite being a criminal is almost a voice of reason about drugs in the movie. He always warns them about 'pumping that shit into themselves'.

Quotes:

• Begbie: Look, I'm not a Fucking buftie, and that's the end of it!
  Renton: Well, let's face it, it could've been wonderful.
  Begbie:  Fucking listen to me, you piece of junkie shit. A joke's a Fuckiing joke. You mention that again, and I'll cut you up!
•  Begbie didn't do drugs either. He just did people. That's what he got off on; his own sensory addiction. 
• No cunt leaves here till we find the wee cunt that did it