Sierva is a twelve-year-old girl born into a declining noble family in colonial Colombia. Neglected by her parents, she grows up in the courtyard with the enslaved household staff, absorbing their African languages, religious practices, and cultural customs. She has pale skin and incredibly long copper hair promised to the saints. Her fluid, stealthy movements and tendency to lie confound the white adults around her.

A Spanish-born priest serving as the Bishop's librarian and personal reader. He possesses a sharp intellect and a deep appreciation for secular literature, particularly the poetry of Garcilaso de la Vega. When tasked with evaluating Sierva for demonic possession, his strict theological training clashes with his developing personal affections.

The American-born heir to a slave-trading fortune, the Marquis lives in a perpetual state of fear and apathy. Following the sudden death of his first wife, he abandoned his faith and retreated entirely from high society. He spends his days resting in an orchard hammock, isolated from the daily operations of his estate until his daughter's dog bite forces him to act.

The physically imposing but asthmatic leader of the local Catholic diocese. He lives in a crumbling stone palace, managing the spiritual affairs of the colony while maintaining strict adherence to Church doctrine. He views demonic possession as a genuine, pressing threat to the New World and approaches religious authority with uncompromising severity.

A controversial physician of Portuguese Jewish descent who dresses entirely in black. He combines vast medical knowledge with unorthodox methods, earning the deep suspicion of the local Catholic establishment. He maintains a pragmatic, science-minded view of disease, directly challenging the religious community's rush to declare demonic possession.

The Marquis's second wife, a woman of mixed indigenous and Spanish heritage who once possessed formidable business acumen. She has since fallen into a severe physical and mental decline, retreating from her family while consuming fermented honey and cacao tablets. She actively resents her husband and shows outright hostility toward her daughter.

The rigid and narrow-minded leader of the Santa Clara Convent. She harbors a deep-seated distrust of the Bishop due to a long-standing historical feud between their respective religious orders. When Sierva arrives at the convent, she quickly interprets the girl's unusual background and behavior as indisputable proof of satanic influence.

The formidable enslaved woman who previously managed the Marquis's household and served as Sierva's primary caregiver. Though deceased before the main events of the story, her influence completely shapes Sierva's worldview. She introduced the young girl to African languages, cultural practices, and Yoruban religious devotion.

An inmate at the neighboring Divina Pastora Asylum for Female Lunatics who maintains a complex, long-standing connection with the Marquis. Despite her confinement, she retains a sharp wit and periodically sneaks into the Marquis's home to clean the floors and ward off evil spirits.

A former nun imprisoned in the convent's pavilion for murder. She views her permanent confinement as indistinguishable from death and remains fiercely obsessed with the idea of escaping. She becomes one of the few white women to form a genuine bond of trust with Sierva.

An older, experienced Franciscan priest who ministers to the city's enslaved population. Having spent decades in Spain before returning to his birthplace, he approaches his faith with a deep respect for African languages and customs. His background makes him uniquely equipped to communicate with Sierva.

A virile, free Black man who willingly allowed Bernarda to purchase him as property. Known for his hedonistic lifestyle, he introduces Bernarda to the powerful substances that eventually fuel her total physical and mental decline.

The Marquis's first wife, a beautiful Spanish-born noblewoman who attempted to introduce him to high society and music. Her sudden death early in their marriage triggered the Marquis's descent into lifelong apathy and faithlessness.

An indigenous woman known throughout the city for practicing folk medicine and offering prophecies. She first alerts the Marquis to the spreading threat of rabies, using an upcoming solar eclipse as an omen of impending tragedy.

The newly appointed Spanish Viceroy passing through the city. Elegant and somewhat detached from the grim realities of colonial life, he believes the region's problems can be solved through the promotion of arts and literature rather than harsh religious enforcement.

The Viceroy's much younger, highly energetic wife. She takes an active interest in the conditions of the convent and uses her political leverage to improve Sierva's living situation, directly challenging the Abbess's absolute authority.

An enslaved woman in the Marquis's household who is assigned the daunting task of caring for Sierva following the dog bite. She attempts to fill the void left by the deceased Dominga de Adviento while navigating the Marquis's sudden, demanding oversight.

The aging coachman for the Marquis's household, having served the family since the time of the first Marquis. He suffers from poor eyesight and general frailty but remains faithfully at his master's disposal.