Clyde is a handsome young man born to poor, itinerant street preachers. Desiring wealth and social standing, he works his way from a drugstore cleaning job to a bellhop position at the gaudy Green-Davidson hotel. His early encounters with the affluent class ignite his materialistic ambitions. Moving to Lycurgus, New York, he attempts to climb the social ladder while engaging in complex relationships that challenge his judgment.

Roberta is a young woman from a poor farming family in Blitz, New York. She moves to Lycurgus seeking a better life and financial stability. Raised with strict, conventional morality, her desire for romance and advancement clashes with her upbringing when she catches the attention of her handsome supervisor.

Elvira is Clyde's sturdy, determined mother. She preaches at a street mission, believing strongly that her faith will guide her family through their extreme poverty. Her sheltered view of the world leaves her children unprepared for the realities of modern society, though she remains fiercely dedicated to saving her son.

Samuel is Clyde's wealthy paternal uncle who owns a successful shirt collar factory. He built his empire using generational wealth. Priding himself on respectability and family duty, he offers Clyde an entry-level position but deliberately keeps him separated from his immediate family's social sphere.

Sondra is a wealthy, seventeen-year-old socialite in Lycurgus. She initially takes an interest in Clyde to spite his cousin Gilbert. She enjoys a life of leisure, day trips, and exclusive parties, representing the epitome of the social class Clyde desperately wishes to join.

Mason is an ambitious district attorney in Cataraqui County. Driven by a desire to overcome his early poverty and a facial scar, he views high-profile legal cases as stepping stones to securing a Republican judgeship. He takes a fierce interest in investigating a local tragedy to boost his political prestige.

Asa is Clyde's father, an impractical man who works as an itinerant street preacher. He provides poorly for his family, preferring to rely on his religious beliefs and the vague hope that his wealthy brother might one day support them financially.

Alvin is a Democratic defense lawyer hired to represent a high-profile client. He brings clear political motivations to his legal work, aiming to damage the career prospects of his rival while constructing an alternate narrative to protect his client.

Ruben is Alvin Belknap's law partner. He is a hard, calculating attorney who uses his shrewd intellect to construct plausible defenses. His own difficult upbringing gives him a slight measure of sympathy for young men from lower-class backgrounds.

Esta is Clyde's sister, who sings at their parents' street missions. Craving an escape from her family's poverty, she runs away with an older man, a decision that forces her to face the harsh consequences of her lack of practical education and her sheltered upbringing.

Hortense is an acquisitive teenager in Kansas City who attracts Clyde's attention. She views beauty and relationships as transactional, encouraging Clyde to spend his limited money on her—specifically targeting a fur coat—in exchange for her company.

Dr. Glenn is a physician who strictly regulates his medical assistance based on the class and marital status of his patients. He applies harsh moral judgments to working-class women who seek reproductive care, fearing the legal consequences of aiding them.

Gilbert is Samuel's arrogant son and an executive at the family factory. He bears a striking physical resemblance to Clyde but possesses all the security and wealth his cousin lacks. He actively works to keep Clyde in menial positions, viewing him as a threat to the family's dignity.

Duncan is a charismatic evangelist whom Elvira trusts to provide spiritual counsel. He holds strong religious convictions and believes that moral transgressions require severe legal and spiritual consequences, deeply influencing Clyde during his darkest moments.

Ratterer is a bellhop at the hotel who comes from a permissive household. He introduces Clyde to Kansas City's nightlife and later helps Clyde secure a job in Chicago, acting as a guide to the unwritten rules of their social class.

Sparser is a bellhop working alongside Clyde. His decision to borrow a luxury car for a joyride leads to a disastrous accident that dramatically alters the course of Clyde's life, forcing him to flee the city.

Oscar is an experienced bellhop at the hotel. He teaches Clyde the unwritten rules of their trade, instructing him on how to secure tips and mimic the behavior of successful staff members.

Fred is the coroner for Cataraqui County. He discovers critical evidence during an investigation and strategically shares information with the district attorney to ensure the case gains high-profile attention.

Burton serves as Orville Mason's legal assistant. He is fiercely loyal to his boss and demonstrates a willingness to manipulate physical evidence to build a stronger case against a suspect.

Elizabeth is Samuel's wife. She maintains a placid demeanor and quietly disapproves of the flashy behavior exhibited by the newer wealthy families in Lycurgus, preferring understated elegance.

Bella is the younger, socially active daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth. She spends her time engaging in leisure pursuits with the affluent youth of Lycurgus, ignoring the factory workers who fund her lifestyle.

Myra is Samuel's older, studious daughter. She leads a quieter life than her sister within the affluent Lycurgus community, largely remaining in the background of the family's social affairs.

Walter is an ambitious young man living in the same boarding house as Clyde. He invites Clyde to private parties and church socials, drawing him out of his self-imposed isolation in the new town.

Grace is a friend of Roberta from the Lycurgus boarding house. She spends her free time with Roberta and eventually becomes suspicious when Roberta begins hiding her activities and making excuses to miss church.

Titus is Roberta's father. He runs a failing farm and struggles with extreme poverty, a situation that ultimately pushes his daughter to seek factory work in the city to support herself and the family.

Mrs. Alden is Roberta's mother. She observes her daughter's growing distress and attempts to understand the pressures Roberta faces away from home, eventually cooperating with authorities during a crisis.

Bertine is a wealthy socialite and close friend to Sondra Finchley. She initially ignores Clyde as a poor relation but eventually accepts his presence as he integrates into their exclusive social circle.