Stephen is an intelligent and sensitive boy growing up in Ireland. Raised in a Catholic family with fluctuating fortunes, he attends strict Jesuit schools where he frequently feels isolated from his peers. He possesses a deep fascination with language and aesthetics, often retreating into his imagination to process the fierce religious and political debates occurring around him.

Simon is Stephen's father, a man prone to nostalgic storytelling and strong Irish patriotic sentiments. He values his status as a gentleman but struggles significantly with financial management, leading his family into increasing debt and frequent relocations. He holds deep resentments regarding the interference of the Catholic Church in Irish politics.

Emma is a young girl in Stephen's social periphery. After sharing a tram ride home from a party, she becomes the primary focus of Stephen's early poetic attempts and romantic ideals. She maintains a polite distance from Stephen, interacting more comfortably with his outgoing peers.

Cranly is a university classmate of Stephen who acts as a sounding board for his emerging theories on art and religion. He possesses strong social intelligence and moves through societal institutions with an ease that Stephen lacks. He frequently offers practical advice to counterbalance Stephen's intense isolation.

Mrs. Dedalus is Stephen's mother. She is a devout Catholic who tries to keep the peace within her financially unstable household. She strongly advocates for religious obedience and worries deeply about Stephen's academic reading habits and his drifting away from the church.

Dante is Stephen's governess and a former nun. She is a strict and fiercely devout Catholic woman who holds rigid views on morality. She vehemently defends the absolute authority of priests against any political criticism from the men in the Dedalus household.

Uncle Charles is an elderly relative who lives with the Dedalus family. He maintains a pious routine and smokes strong tobacco, spending time walking with Stephen through the markets in Blackrock.

Mr. Casey is a close friend of Simon Dedalus. He is a passionate supporter of the late politician Charles Stewart Parnell. He frequently argues with Dante over the role of the Catholic Church in Irish politics, believing the clergy betrayed the Irish people.

Eileen is Stephen's childhood neighbor. She is his earliest crush, but her family's Protestant faith causes outrage among the devout Catholic adults in Stephen's life.

Wells is an aggressive student at Clongowes Wood College. He targets Stephen for his quiet nature, shoving him into a cesspool and mocking him with unanswerable questions about his family.

Brother Michael manages the infirmary at Clongowes Wood College. He tends to Stephen when the boy develops a fever, expressing concern over his severe illness.

Father Arnall is a Jesuit priest who teaches at Stephen's schools. He delivers a terrifying series of sermons about hell and eternal damnation during a religious retreat, profoundly impacting Stephen's conscience.

Father Conmee is the rector at Clongowes Wood College. He listens to Stephen's report of unfair corporal punishment and promises to speak to the offending prefect, granting Stephen a rare moment of victory.

Mike Flynn is an older friend of Simon Dedalus. Despite his own poor health, he attempts to train Stephen in track and field over the summer.

Heron is a student at Belvedere College who frequently spars verbally with Stephen. He pressures Stephen to conform to their peer group's opinions on literature and mocks his refusal to smoke cigarettes.

Wallis is a student at Belvedere College. He joins Heron in teasing Stephen about his habits and his supposed romantic interests before the school play.

MacCann is a politically active university student. He criticizes Stephen for being antisocial and presses him to sign a petition for universal peace.

Davin is a university student and a fierce advocate for Irish nationalism. He questions Stephen's refusal to attend Irish language classes but trusts Stephen enough to share personal secrets.

Temple is a university student from Ulster. He openly admires Stephen's poetic skills and his independent mind, frequently siding with him during peer group arguments.

Lynch is a university student who acts as an audience for Stephen's complex theories. He listens to Stephen detail his beliefs regarding art, aesthetics, and the soul.

Charles Stewart Parnell is a deceased Irish politician whose career and scandal divide the adults in Stephen's life. His legacy sparks intense arguments about the intersection of Irish independence and Catholic authority.

Athy is a fellow student at Clongowes Wood College. He poses riddles to Stephen in the infirmary and shares gossip about older boys being caught engaging in forbidden activities.