A pragmatic, middle-class army captain who looks back on his formative years at Oxford and his friendship with the aristocratic Flyte family. Raised by an eccentric father and studying history, Charles finds himself captivated by the beauty, charm, and Catholic faith of the upper-class world his friend Sebastian inhabits. He is observant, sometimes snobbish, and deeply nostalgic for the pastoral peace of his past.

The charming, androgynously beautiful younger son of the aristocratic Flyte family. Sebastian enchants his Oxford peers with his eccentricities, such as carrying a teddy bear named Aloysius, which shields him from the realities of adulthood. He intensely guards his friendship with Charles from his family, harboring deep anxieties about his Catholic upbringing and his parents' expectations.

Sebastian's beautiful and pragmatic sister, a debutante managing the restrictive social expectations of 1920s high society. Aware that her Catholic upbringing limits her marital prospects within the Protestant aristocracy, Julia is highly conscious of her image and future. She shares a strong physical resemblance to Sebastian but possesses a much more competitive and worldly disposition.

A flamboyant, openly gay Oxford student of South American heritage who stands outside the traditional British social order. Anthony is perceptive and sharp-tongued, seeing through the polite veneers of the upper class. He acts as an unofficial guide and warning voice for Charles, offering cutting but accurate insights into the Flyte family's true nature.

The pious, controlling mother of the Flyte children. Left by her husband, she maintains a strict Catholic household and exerts significant influence over her children's lives. She frequently enlists outsiders, including Charles and academic dons, to monitor and manage her son, believing she acts in her family's best spiritual and social interests.

The exiled patriarch of the Flyte family, living in Italy with his mistress after abandoning his wife and traditional English society. Lord Marchmain maintains a studied normalcy and a cynical distance from the religious fervor of his wife. He enjoys shocking English sensibilities but remains a crucial authority figure regarding the family's finances.

The solemn, traditional eldest brother of the Flyte family and heir to the title. Brideshead is deeply religious, having once considered entering the priesthood, a path discouraged for an aristocrat in his position. He is straightforward, somewhat literal-minded, and views family matters through a lens of strict Catholic doctrine rather than emotion.

The youngest of the Flyte siblings, characterized by her energetic piety and straightforward nature. Cordelia is happily Catholic, often quizzing Charles about his agnosticism and dedicating herself to religious causes, such as raising funds for missionaries. She views the world with an innocence and spiritual certainty that eludes her older siblings.

A wealthy Canadian well-connected within British political circles, seeking to solidify his status by marrying into the aristocracy. Rex is pragmatic, financially motivated, and entirely unbothered by the subtleties of English high society. He views social interactions as transactions and approaches the Catholic restrictions of high society as mere bureaucratic hurdles.

Lord Marchmain's mistress, living with him in Italy. Contrary to Charles's expectations of a scandalous woman, Cara is highly observant, pragmatic, and grounded. She provides Charles with candid, worldly advice regarding intense friendships and the growing dangers of alcohol misuse.

An academic who ingratiates himself with Lady Marchmain. He acts as a monitor for her younger son at Oxford and during travels, attempting to oversee the young aristocrat's behavior. The students find his presence patronizing and bothersome.

A pragmatic platoon commander serving under Charles during World War II. Hooper represents a new, unromantic generation of middle-class Englishmen. He is highly practical, devoid of nostalgia for the past, and serves as a point of contrast for his superior officer's aristocratic obsessions.

Charles's eccentric, scholarly father. Following the death of his wife in World War I, Edward lives a solitary life and is entirely uninterested in parenting. He engages in a polite but ruthless psychological war of attrition with his son, using elaborate meals and feigned ignorance to annoy him out of the house.

The retired childhood nurse of the Flyte siblings, residing permanently in the upper rooms of the Brideshead estate. She represents unconditional love and stability for the family, particularly for the youngest children, who seek her out to avoid the complexities of their adult relatives.

Charles's older cousin, a conventional and advice-giving student at Oxford. Jasper is highly conscious of reputation and actively disapproves of Charles's association with the Catholic aristocracy and flamboyant aesthetes, urging him to adopt a more traditional, respectable path.

A boisterous and foolish peer of the students at Oxford. Mulcaster represents the rowdier, less refined elements of university life, eagerly encouraging the group into illicit drinking and nightlife that ultimately leads to trouble with the law.