Ethan is a 28-year-old farmer and sawmill operator struggling to make a living in the isolated town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. Though intellectually curious with thwarted ambitions of becoming an engineer, family illnesses and obligations keep him bound to his impoverished homestead. He possesses a deep sensitivity to nature and feels increasingly estranged within his marriage, finding his only solace in quiet moments at home.

Mattie is Zeena's cousin, a young woman in her early twenties who moves to Starkfield to serve as the Fromes' housekeeper after the death of her parents leaves her destitute. Lacking practical domestic skills but possessing a bright, earnest nature, she struggles to meet Zeena's exacting standards. She shares a profound appreciation for beauty and learning with Ethan, bringing warmth into the otherwise bleak farmhouse.

Zeena is Ethan's 35-year-old wife who originally came to Starkfield to nurse Ethan's ailing mother. She suffers from various chronic, largely undefined illnesses and uses her status as an invalid to exert control over the household. Her silent, watchful demeanor and constant demands for new medical treatments create a stifling, oppressive atmosphere in the farmhouse.

An educated engineer temporarily assigned to a nearby power plant, the narrator finds himself wintering in the isolated town of Starkfield due to a strike. Possessing a cosmopolitan background and financial security, he becomes deeply curious about Ethan's history. He takes it upon himself to piece together the tragedy of the local farmer's life from various townspeople.

Andrew Hale is Starkfield's local builder and a family man known for his ruddy face and generous nature. Despite projecting an image of prosperity, his easygoing habits and large family often leave him strapped for cash. This chronic lack of funds makes him unable to provide advance payments when requested.

Ruth Varnum is the daughter of Starkfield's sole lawyer and belongs to one of the town's historically well-to-do families. With a slightly refined sensibility due to her education, she maintains a certain dignity despite her family's declining fortunes. She later serves as the narrator's landlady.

Harmon Gow is a Starkfield native and a former stagecoach driver. Thanks to his years driving the local routes, he knows the history of nearly every family in town. He serves as the narrator's initial source of information regarding Ethan's past.

Denis Eady is the lively, handsome son of Michael Eady, an Irish-American man who runs one of Starkfield's successful grocery stores. Known as a confident womanizer, he frequently attempts to court Mattie Silver, acting as a foil to Ethan's quiet restraint.

Jotham Powell is the hired man who assists Ethan with the grueling daily labor on the Frome farm and sawmill. He is a quiet, stoic presence around the homestead, seemingly sensitive to the tense atmosphere within the Frome marriage and careful to avoid taking sides.

Ned Hale is the son of the local builder Andrew Hale and the fiancé of Ruth Varnum. He represents the carefree, romantic youth of Starkfield, openly showing his affection for Ruth in ways that highlight Ethan's own stifled desires.

Michael Eady is an Irish-American businessman who runs a successful grocery store in Starkfield. He has built considerable wealth through smart commercial practices, securing a comfortable future for his son.