G. is a nine-year-old boy living in Creighton's Village, Barbados. Raised by his mother after his father's departure, he observes the community's collective behaviors and structural divides. He takes his studies seriously and questions the world around him, seeking to understand complex topics like history, identity, and authority alongside his close companions.

Trumper is a light-skinned boy in Creighton's Village and one of G.'s regular companions. He acts as an unofficial leader among his friends, organizing their outings to the beach and pushing boundaries. He harbors a strong curiosity about the world beyond Barbados and frequently dreams of traveling to America for better opportunities.

Mr. Creighton is the white English landlord who holds ownership over Creighton's Village. Residing in a large mansion situated on a hill overlooking the settlement, his family has controlled the land for generations. He exercises a paternalistic control over the villagers, who generally view him with a mixture of conditioned respect and submission.

Pa is the oldest male resident in Creighton's Village, universally respected as a community elder. Having previously traveled to work on the Panama Canal, he brings a broader perspective to local issues. He frequently ponders philosophical questions about societal shifts, land ownership, and the future of the younger generation.

Ma is the oldest woman in Creighton's Village and the wife of Pa. She roots herself in profound religious faith, preferring to leave worldly troubles and political arguments in God's hands. She serves as a pragmatic, nurturing force for her husband and the wider community, expressing skepticism toward sudden social changes.

Mr. Slime begins his career as a popular, sharp-dressing teacher at the local school. Following an administrative scandal, he pivots his ambitions toward political and economic organizing. He founds the Penny Bank and the Friendly Society, positioning himself as a leader fighting for the villagers' financial independence and workers' rights.

G.'s mother is a single parent raising her son in Creighton's Village. She operates as a strict disciplinarian who works hard to ensure her son respects adult authority. She is fully integrated into the village's social fabric, participating actively in local gossip and communal singing.

Boy Blue is one of G.'s close companions in the village, recognized by his peers for his very dark skin. He possesses an excellent talent for catching crabs on the beach and frequently leads philosophical conversations. He often experiences existential worry, troubled by thoughts of outliving everyone else.

Bob is a childhood friend of G. who frequently finds himself in trouble with the adults in the village. The son of a fisherman, he holds absolute beliefs about the geography of the world based on his father's stories. He attempts to assert his independence but is quick to flee when situations become threatening.

Bob's mother is a formidable woman in the village who enforces strict physical discipline on her son. She frequently converses with G.'s mother and Miss Foster, participating in a constant pattern of neighborhood monitoring and communal child-rearing.

Bob's father works as a fisherman and actively participates in the village's labor discussions. He frequently gathers with other men to debate politics, workers' rights, and community solidarity, placing strong trust in Mr. Slime's representation of the workers.

Miss Foster is a talkative resident who closely monitors the youth of the village. She takes great pride in her direct interactions with Mr. Creighton, viewing him as a benevolent protector who can overrule the aggressive overseers.

Mr. Foster is a stubborn resident of Creighton's Village with deep attachments to his property. He joins the other village men in political debates and labor strikes, placing a strong emphasis on community unity.

The head teacher runs the village school with a strict and physical disciplinary style. Though highly respected by the public, he struggles with deep personal insecurities regarding his wife and faces difficulties managing the subversive actions of his subordinate teachers.

The shoemaker is a tradesman who reads extensively about colonial power dynamics. He uses his shop as a gathering place to deliver passionate speeches, encouraging the village men to rely on their own strength rather than colonial governors.

The overseer is a local man employed by the English landlord to enforce rules on the property. He views the villagers as untrustworthy and acts strictly in the landlord's interests, generating deep mutual animosity between himself and his neighbors.

Trumper's father is a working man in Creighton's Village and the brother of the landlord's overseer. Unlike his brother, he aligns himself with the striking workers and participates heavily in the communal life of the village.