Des Grieux is a 17-year-old student from a respected family studying philosophy at a Jesuit college in Amiens. Initially known for his prudent habits and well-ordered life, his priorities shift entirely after a chance encounter derails his plans to enter the Order of Malta. He possesses a noble background and a gift for rhetoric, frequently using his formal education to construct philosophical arguments that excuse his increasingly scandalous behavior.

Manon is a beautiful 16-year-old girl of common birth. She is highly pragmatic about survival and views financial security as an absolute necessity, separating the concept of romantic love from physical intimacy. Her stunning appearance and magnetic personality exert a powerful influence on those around her, frequently attracting the attention of wealthy men and creating recurring complications for her relationship with Des Grieux.

Tiberge is a mature student who serves as the moral center of the narrative. Despite lacking personal wealth, he is deeply generous and committed to his faith, representing reason and religious devotion. He acts as a steady grounding force and a completely loyal companion, refusing to abandon his friend despite strong disagreements regarding lifestyle choices.

M. De Renoncour is the overall narrator of the larger memoirs in which the story is framed. He is a wealthy and respectable man traveling through France who takes an interest in the plight of two young lovers. He possesses a strong sense of compassion and occasionally provides financial assistance to those whose stories move him.

Lescaut is a member of the king's guard and the brother of Manon. He is a coarse, practical man who frequently leverages his sister's relationships for his own financial gain. He is deeply entrenched in the Parisian underworld, utilizing his connections to professional gamblers and card sharps to sustain a comfortable lifestyle.

M. De G…M… is an older, wealthy man willing to pay lavishly for companionship. Unlike typical stock characters who silently accept humiliation, he is a powerful figure with access to royal authority, making him a formidable adversary when crossed. He uses his influence and vast resources to exert control over others and seek vengeance.

M. De T… is the son of an administrator at a Parisian reformatory. He is a wealthy young man driven by sensibility and romance. Fully appreciative of passion, he actively assists those entangled in matters of the heart, acting out of a desire to be seen as a generous, cultured man of breeding.

Des Grieux's Father is a member of a wealthy and noble family from the provinces. He expects strict obedience and adherence to social conventions. Although he initially dismisses youthful romance as a mere phase, he holds genuine affection for his son, using both physical force and financial leverage in an attempt to steer him toward a respectable life.

M. De B… is a successful tax collector belonging to the commoner class who has accumulated significant wealth. He represents the financial realities of 18th-century Paris, utilizing his vast resources to secure companionship and influence, viewing relationships through a highly transactional lens.

Synnelet is the nephew of the governor in the American colony. He is a proud, honorable man who quickly becomes infatuated with new arrivals to the settlement. Bound by strict codes of gentlemanly conduct, he views romantic rivalry as a serious matter of personal honor.