Hope is the 17-year-old daughter of Alice, adopted as a ward by Mr. Fletcher after her mother's passing. Educated in the strict Puritan society of seventeenth-century Massachusetts, she maintains an open and fearless disposition that constantly clashes with the rigid expectations of her community. She possesses a strong moral compass, refuses to be dominated by patriarchal authority figures, and relies heavily on her own instincts.

Everell is the stalwart, reliable 14-year-old son of Mr. Fletcher and his wife Martha. Growing up on the frontier, he develops a strong sense of duty and physical capability, balancing his father's strict Puritan values with his own sense of justice. He forms a quick bond with Magawisca, teaching her to read and learning to respect her people's history.

William Fletcher is a dour and stoic Puritan who leaves England after refusing to swear allegiance to the King's established church. He settles his family in the frontier town of Springfield, working hard and adhering to a strict belief in divine providence. He takes in the daughters of his former love, striving to provide them with a proper, controlled upbringing.

Originally named Mary before her baptism in New England, Faith is the bashful and quiet younger sister of Hope. She is taken into the Fletcher household as a child. Her quiet nature heavily contrasts with her sister's exuberance, making her more susceptible to the dramatic cultural shifts in her environment.

Magawisca is the intelligent, graceful daughter of the Pequod chief Mononotto. Brought to the Fletcher household as a servant following the war, she learns to read English while secretly mourning the violent destruction of her tribe. She possesses deep moral convictions and often grapples with her divided loyalties between her English captors and her Native heritage.

Governor Winthrop is the pragmatic leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He operates as an emblem of white, Protestant authority, making decisions based on judicial wisdom and contemporary societal norms. He attempts to guide the younger members of the settlement, particularly Hope, toward what he considers proper and respectable behavior.

Sir Philip is a mysterious, older gentleman who presents himself as a respectable new arrival in the colony. Beneath his polite exterior, he harbors secret ambitions for financial wealth and political power. He sets his sights on courting Hope Leslie, though his calculating nature quickly arouses suspicion among the younger residents.

Alice is Mr. Fletcher's cousin and his first love in England. Forced by her father to marry a man named Charles Leslie, she remains a lingering, painful memory for Mr. Fletcher. She eventually embarks on a voyage to New England but passes away during the journey, leaving her two young daughters to her former love.

Martha is an orphan girl and former ward of Mr. Winthrop who marries Mr. Fletcher in England. She dutifully follows her husband to the frontier settlement of Springfield, where she efficiently manages the household. She harbors deep anxiety regarding the Native Americans living near their home.

Digby is a loyal servant to the Fletcher family and a veteran of the Pequod war. He remains fiercely protective of his employers and harbors a deep mistrust of the Native Americans, often acting as a primary guard for the family's frontier home.

Mononotto is a Pequod chief who survived the brutal slaughter of his tribe. Driven by the loss of his family and the destruction of his people, he transforms into a hardened warrior seeking to strike back against the English settlers and reunite with his captive children.

Oneco is the young son of Mononotto and brother to Magawisca. He becomes a captive of the English following the war that decimates his tribe, quietly navigating his new reality while remaining closely tied to his family roots.

Mrs. Grafton is the somewhat frivolous aunt of Hope and Faith Leslie. She cares deeply for her nieces but struggles immensely with the austere lifestyle of the Puritans, vastly preferring fashion and worldly comforts over religious devotion.

Master Cradock is an eccentric language scholar employed as a tutor for Hope and Faith Leslie. He is highly bookish and somewhat impractical, heavily relying on the guidance and protection of his headstrong pupil, Hope.

Nelema is an elderly Indian woman who lives near the settlement. Having lost her own sons to the ongoing conflicts, she retains extensive knowledge of traditional healing and serves as a mysterious link to the Native community.

Esther is the niece of Governor Winthrop and a close friend of Hope Leslie. She represents the ideal Puritan woman, highly pious, modest, and completely devoted to her faith. She harbors a quiet, long-standing affection for Everell Fletcher.

Roslin is the young page who serves Sir Philip Gardiner. Bound to Sir Philip's service, Roslin exhibits a nervous and highly protective demeanor, occasionally attempting to warn others about his master's true nature.

Jennet is a servant in the Fletcher household who frequently snoops and gossips. She serves as an ever-watchful presence, quick to suspect the actions of those she considers outsiders or morally compromised.

Samoset is Magawisca's older brother and a Pequod brave. He fights fiercely against the English attackers but is ultimately taken prisoner and executed when he refuses to betray his people.