Karl is a fifteen-year-old immigrant from Prague who arrives in America after his parents banish him for fathering a child with a family maid. He possesses a naive and trusting nature, often relying on his strict personal morals to make decisions. Equipped with some engineering training and a strong desire to succeed, he struggles to interpret social cues and the harsh realities of American capitalism. His journey involves finding shelter and seeking honest work, only to lose his standing repeatedly due to manipulation by others.

Edward is a highly successful state councillor and businessman who runs a transportation company in New York City. Having spent decades in America, he completely detached himself from his European relatives and even changed his surname. He operates strictly on principles and demands absolute obedience from his dependents. He attempts to mold his nephew into a capable capitalist but exhibits little patience for mistakes.

Delamarche is a French drifter who constantly looks for ways to profit off others. He easily spots vulnerability and quickly takes advantage of Karl's youth and resources. He views honest work with disdain, preferring to con his way into comfortable situations. He eventually secures a wealthy patron and demands absolute servitude from those around him.

An Irish drifter who travels the countryside looking for easy opportunities. He lacks discipline and struggles with severe alcoholism. While slightly less aggressive than his partner Delamarche, he proves equally parasitic and uses guilt to force Karl into assisting him. He happily accepts degrading conditions if it means avoiding real work.

An elderly woman from Vienna who manages the kitchen staff at the Hotel Occidental. Recognizing Karl as a fellow German speaker, she immediately acts as a maternal figure and secures him a position as a lift-boy. She values hard work and loyalty, trying her best to protect her vulnerable employees from the hotel's harsh management system.

Therese is an eighteen-year-old typist from Pomerania who survived extreme poverty after her father abandoned her family. The trauma of her mother's tragic death left her cautious and highly appreciative of the Head Cook's protection. She quickly bonds with Karl, offering him practical advice about survival in America.

A German crewman on the Hamburg-America line who feels intensely wronged by his superiors. He provides Karl with his first connection in America, acting briefly as an older confidant. He focuses entirely on his workplace grievances and demands a fair hearing.

A business associate of Karl's uncle who owns a large country house outside New York. He appears friendly and welcoming but demonstrates poor judgment by inviting Karl out of the city against Edward's wishes. He generally defers to louder, more aggressive personalities.

A loud and brash businessman associated with Karl's uncle. He exhibits a complete lack of gentility, openly flirting with his host's daughter and speaking to Karl with condescension. He acts as an enforcer for Edward Jakob, carrying out cruel tasks with apparent satisfaction.

The daughter of Mr. Pollunder. She uses her position of wealth to dominate guests and manipulate situations for her amusement. She acts aggressively toward Karl, alternating between physical violence and tedious conversation to keep him completely off-balance.

A wealthy divorcee who sold her possessions to live with Delamarche. She is physically imposing and heavily reliant on her servants for basic tasks like bathing and eating. She demands absolute quiet and completely controls the household's bizarre daily routine.

A busy young man who works as a salesman at Montly's department store during the day and studies late into the night. He functions on massive amounts of coffee to keep his schedule going. He provides Karl with a highly realistic perspective on the miseries of honest labor versus servitude.

A cruel and vindictive manager at the hotel. He harbors a deep inferiority complex and demands constant respect from lower-level staff. He invents wild stories to punish those who fail to greet him with sufficient deference.

A severe manager at the Hotel Occidental who enforces strict workplace rules. He falls easily under the influence of the Head Cook due to his romantic feelings for her, though he ultimately prioritizes the hotel's rigid disciplinary system.

A vain youth with dark eyes who cares more about his appearance and social life than his job. He frequently abandons his shifts, forcing Karl to cover for him while he heads into the city wearing fancy suits.

A delicate young worker at the Hotel Occidental who struggles with the exhausting hours required of low-level staff. He frequently falls asleep on the job, leading to Karl eventually replacing him as a lift-boy.

Karl's mother and father remain in Prague. They permanently exiled their son to America to avoid the financial and social scandal of his illegitimate child. Karl retains a strong, idealized attachment to them despite their harsh punishment.

A thirty-five-year-old maid who worked for Karl's family in Prague. She seduced the young Karl, resulting in a pregnancy that caused his permanent exile to America. She wrote the letter to Edward Jakob that allowed him to locate Karl on the ship.

The carefree son of the greatest property developer in New York. He projects the easy confidence of extreme wealth and remains entirely insulated from the labor strikes affecting his father's businesses.

An old acquaintance of Karl's who works as a musician at the Theater of Oklahoma. She enthusiastically encourages his artistic talents when they reunite, offering a friendly face in a strange new environment.

A Romanian boss working in the engine room of the Hamburg-America line ship. He acts efficiently but attracts extreme resentment from lower-level workers who feel completely unappreciated under his management.