Eugène is an ambitious law student who has recently relocated to Paris. Though his provincial family has aristocratic roots, they live in relative poverty and have sacrificed their savings to fund his education. He is fascinated by the wealthy elites of Restoration France and desires to enter high society. He relies on his family connections to secure invitations to elite gatherings while trying to learn the complex rules of social etiquette.

Goriot is an elderly former merchant who made a fortune in the flour and noodle trade during the French Revolution. He has spent his vast wealth funding the luxurious lifestyles of his two daughters, leaving him impoverished and living in the shabby third-floor rooms of the boarding house. He endures constant mockery from the other lodgers and the landlady.

Delphine is the spoiled younger daughter of Goriot, raised to expect a life of luxury and endless financial support from her father. She is married to a wealthy German banker, but because her husband lacks the prestigious bloodlines of the French aristocracy, she struggles to gain full acceptance in the highest social circles.

Vautrin is an outgoing, cynical man who wears a wig and dyes his facial hair. He studies society closely and views the wealthy upper class as entirely hypocritical. He maintains a mysterious schedule, receiving secretive late-night visitors, and takes a particular interest in Eugène's ambitions by offering him a ruthless scheme for acquiring a fortune.

Madame Vauquer is the selfish and hypocritical widow who owns the rundown Maison Vauquer. She evaluates her lodgers strictly based on their wealth and status, initially attempting to court Goriot when he was rich. When his money dwindles, she turns on him and encourages the other tenants to treat him with cruelty.

Victorine is a quiet young woman whose mother has died. Despite her father being a tremendously wealthy banker, she lives in relative poverty because he refuses to acknowledge her, planning instead to leave his entire fortune to his son. She passively endures this mistreatment while hoping her father will forgive her.

Madame de Beauséant is an influential member of Parisian high society and Eugène's cousin. She acts as his mentor, bluntly explaining the shallow, hypocritical nature of the elite circles and teaching him how to hide his emotions to advance his social standing.

Anastasie is Goriot's elder daughter, a beautiful woman accustomed to extreme wealth. Thanks to her father's fortune, she married into the French nobility. Like her sister, she views her impoverished father as an embarrassment and only interacts with him when she needs him to pay for her extravagant debts.

Bianchon is a pragmatic medical student lodging at the Maison Vauquer. Unlike Eugène, he does not obsess over wealth or status, advising his friend to find happiness internally rather than pursuing the corrupting influence of Parisian high society.

Mademoiselle Michonneau is a modest pensioner at the boarding house who inherited her small savings from an elderly companion. She is observant and opportunistic, keeping a close watch on the other lodgers to see how she might profit from their secrets.

Poiret is an older man residing at the Maison Vauquer. He considers himself highly intelligent, though the rest of society largely ignores him. He acts as a loyal follower and companion to Mademoiselle Michonneau.

Madame Couture is the widow of a military man. She acts as a surrogate mother to Victorine, caring for the young woman and attempting to help repair the broken relationship between Victorine and her wealthy father.

Monsieur Taillefer is a tremendously rich banker. He cruelly refuses to acknowledge his daughter Victorine, turning her away when she visits and planning to leave his entire fortune to his son instead.

Frederic is Victorine's brother. He benefits directly from their father's favoritism, standing to inherit millions of francs while his sister lives in a shabby boarding house.

Baron de Nucingen is a wealthy German financier. Though he possesses vast sums of money, his foreign background prevents his wife Delphine from fully integrating into the most elite circles of Parisian society.

Monsieur de Restaud is an aristocratic French count married to Anastasie. He is highly protective of his family's status and actively ostracizes his father-in-law, Goriot, to avoid the embarrassment of his common origins.

Maxime is a fashionable young aristocrat and Anastasie's lover. He accrues massive gambling debts, which he relies on Anastasie to pay off, further draining Goriot's depleted fortune.

The Marquis is a wealthy nobleman and the lover of Madame de Beauséant. He avoids confrontation and secretly plans to end their relationship to marry another woman, making Madame de Beauséant the target of high-society gossip.

The Duchess is a member of the Parisian elite and a friend to Madame de Beauséant. She eagerly shares painful gossip about the Marquis's impending marriage to another woman.

Christophe is the handyman at the Maison Vauquer. He lives in a small attic room and occasionally accepts bribes from lodgers like Vautrin to keep their late-night visitors a secret.

Sylvie is the cook at the boarding house. As a member of the working class, she observes the strange behaviors of the impoverished tenants alongside Christophe.

Madame de Marcillac is Eugène's aunt. She retains valuable connections to the old French aristocracy and provides her nephew with a crucial letter of introduction to their wealthy cousin, Madame de Beauséant.