Paul is a bright, observant Italian-American boy who faces intense pressure to support his mother and seven younger siblings. Forced by poverty to enter the brutal world of construction labor—referred to as "Job"—he works alongside grown men. He is deeply Catholic but begins to question his faith and the promised American dream as he experiences the harsh realities of immigrant poverty and exploitative working conditions.

Geremio is an Italian immigrant and a foreman managing a bricklaying crew. He is deeply devoted to his wife, Annunziata, and their eight children. Despite despising the dangerous conditions of "Job," he works tirelessly with the hope of buying a house and ensuring his children will never have to perform manual labor.

Annunziata is an Italian immigrant who married Geremio when she was very young. She is a deeply devoted mother to eight children and relies entirely on her Catholic faith and her husband for stability. She views her family through the lens of strong traditional gender roles, managing the domestic sphere while relying on the men to provide.

Mr. Murdin is the corporate representative, or "Boss" (padrone), managing the Lower East Side construction project. He views his Italian immigrant laborers with condescension, treating them as replaceable tools rather than human beings. He consistently pushes for faster production to secure corporate profits, disregarding structural safety and workers' well-being.

Uncle Luigi is Annunziata's brother and a fellow bricklayer. He feels an intense moral duty to provide for his sister and her children during times of hardship. His sense of masculinity is deeply tied to his physical capability to work construction, though he is forced to adapt to new realities and redefine his purpose in the family.

Nazone, also known as Master Vincenzo, is a skilled bricklayer and former shoemaker. He believes deeply that a bricklayer's son has a fundamental right to the trade, and he personally advocates for Paul to be hired. He takes on the role of Paul's godfather, though his frequenting of brothels and womanizing create an uncomfortable wedge between him and the religious boy.

Dame Katrina is an older, experienced midwife who serves the Italian immigrant community. She is wise, highly capable, and completely unapologetic about her crude sense of humor. She acts as a fierce advocate for preserving old-world traditions and actively scorns younger women for acting too "American."

Cola is a jovial, full-figured widow living in the neighborhood. Known for her lively personality and frequent jokes, she brings warmth to the often-grim tenement environment. She earns money by cutting embroidery at home and shares her skills with others in the community.

Geremino is the youngest child of Geremio and Annunziata. He represents the continued growth of the family, requiring Paul to work even harder to ensure there is enough food in the home.

A hospital worker who cares for Uncle Luigi. She performs the intimate work of dressing and bathing him, demonstrating kindness that highlights Luigi's vulnerability away from the construction site.

Father John is a local church official who lives comfortably while his parishioners starve. When approached by the impoverished community, he offers only token gestures rather than meaningful assistance.

A seasoned construction worker with a scarred cheek, nicknamed "The Lucy" because of his fondness for the opera *Lucia di Lammermoor*. He openly dislikes bricklaying, frequently causing trouble on the site and mocking the pride other men take in their labor.

Mister Rinaldi is the manager of the construction site where Paul first seeks employment. He strictly adheres to corporate logic, refusing to pay a child fair wages and justifying the exploitation of his workers as simply "the way the world is."

Annina is Paul's younger sister. She functions as a quiet observer within the household, acutely aware of the heavy toll that the construction labor is taking on her brother's physical and emotional development.

A demanding construction worker who frequently tasks Paul with agonizingly difficult labor. His orders often conflict with those of Paul's protective godfather, leading to intense disputes on the scaffolding.

Black Mike is a foreman on Paul's work site responsible for keeping the laborers moving and dispensing their paychecks. He uses his modest authority to rush the men, viewing them strictly as assets generating money.

An elderly, shrewd woman—possibly of Native American descent—who operates as a spiritual medium in the community. Her apartment is filled with Native American portraits and a "Jesus Never Fails" sign. She charges vulnerable, grieving immigrants for the chance to communicate with the dead, offering them vague but comforting reassurances.

Louis is a somber, highly educated Jewish refugee who fled Russia with his family after facing extreme violence. Unlike Paul, Louis approaches the world through logic, reason, and scientific understanding rather than religious faith. The two boys form a deep bond based on mutual respect, despite their vastly different backgrounds.

Leov is Louis's deceased older brother, killed by the Czar's soldiers in Russia for his revolutionary ideals. His memory acts as a guiding ideological force for Louis.

A quiet, accommodating local man, likely a butcher, who provides transportation for Annunziata's family when they must travel to the courthouse.

An educated, sharply dressed legal official in charge of ruling on compensation claims. He is entirely disconnected from the grinding reality of immigrant poverty and views the Italian laborers as uneducated liabilities.

A neighborhood bully who aggressively targets the Jewish residents of the tenement building. His cruel behavior highlights the intense prejudices present even within marginalized immigrant communities.

A former coworker of Geremio who steps up to become a foreman. He uses his position to offer Paul slightly better pay but still screams at the men to work faster. Despite his demanding nature on the clock, he is willing to joke and sing with the men around the fire during lunch.

Gloria is a 12-year-old girl living in Paul's tenement who appears physically older than her age. She innocently wants to play childhood games with Paul, completely unaware of the deep shame and intense physical attraction he feels toward her as he transitions into adulthood.

Jones is a boss managing the chaotic and highly dangerous skyscraper construction site. He is perpetually agitated by slow progress and physically rushes the workers to maximize their bricklaying output high above the ground.