A sensitive 19-year-old student and farmer who struggles to find meaning in the materialistic, hard-labor lifestyle of his community. He longs for deeper cultural and intellectual stimulation, which leads him to the State University in Lincoln. Deeply thoughtful but often plagued by self-doubt, he is eager to establish a purposeful identity beyond the rural Nebraska plains.

Claude's thin, dyspeptic older brother who strictly adheres to Prohibitionist ideals and highly values financial success. He views pleasure-seeking activities with disdain and focuses entirely on material advancement. His miserly habits often put him at odds with Claude, though Bayliss desires a respectable marriage to elevate his social standing.

A prim, well-educated woman who moved to Nebraska from Vermont to be a school principal. She is deeply devout and possesses a romantic spirit, nurturing a powerful emotional connection with Claude. Her longsuffering, self-sacrificing nature heavily influences her favorite son, even as he resents her unquestioning submission to religious authorities.

Claude's father, a highly successful farmer and businessman originally from Maine. He enjoys the rugged freedom of the West and constantly seeks new ways to expand his financial horizons, such as investing in a Colorado ranch. He is industrious but entirely focused on capitalistic gains, frequently dismissing intellectual pursuits as impractical.

A delicately attractive, soft-spoken young woman whose father is a wealthy grain merchant. A childhood playmate of Claude's, she grows into a strict Prohibitionist with highly austere religious habits. Her fascination with missionary work in China and her physical reserve present challenges to traditional domestic expectations.

A highly refined soldier from New York who spent his pre-war years as a professional violinist in Paris. Fluent in French and culturally sophisticated, he volunteers for difficult front-line duty rather than accepting a comfortable desk job, earning the deep respect of his less cosmopolitan peers.

Claude's younger brother, known for being somewhat lazy and highly materialistic. He is fascinated by new cars, gadgets, and any devices that make physical labor easier. He enjoys displaying his family's wealth through frivolous purchases and flashy jewelry.

An elderly, illiterate cook who moved from the impoverished hills of Virginia to Nebraska. Taken in by the Wheelers after her mother passed away, she is intensely devoted to the family, especially Claude and his mother. She maintains a personal archive of treasures in the attic, finding immense value in sentiment over monetary worth.

A Bohemian immigrant who works his farm and serves as Claude's closest friend early in the story. Intelligent and fond of deep conversation, he encourages Claude to find satisfaction within himself rather than searching for external meaning. His atheistic views sometimes cause friction with the more conservative locals.

The physically strong eldest son of the neighboring Dawson family. He is opinionated and intensely patriotic. He considers Claude a friend but harbors a vocal disdain for Bayliss, whom he views as unmanly and bothersome.

A traveling preacher who wields significant influence over the Frankfort and Lovely Creek communities. He advocates for religious schooling and warns against the secular State University. Claude resents his meek-minded approach to faith, viewing it as an excuse to avoid rigorous intellectual thought.

A cultured university student who introduces Claude to his proud, European-style family in Lincoln. He plans to study abroad and become a professor. His family's focus on intellectual conversation and small pleasures offers Claude a sharp contrast to the Wheeler family's capitalistic mindset.

Julius's elegant, widowed German mother. She takes great pleasure in entertaining intelligent students, playing the piano, and fostering creative discussion. Her sophisticated lifestyle demonstrates to Claude that a life of meaning does not require vast wealth, only an appreciation for art and fellowship.

An attractive, highly intelligent high school teacher from a poor local family. Despite her lack of funds, she maintains stylish and slightly extravagant tastes. She is courted by Bayliss Wheeler, who hopes to leverage his wealth to marry her, but she secretly wishes for Claude to break free from their restrictive community.

The Wheelers' closest neighbor, a quiet, serious, and hardworking German immigrant. As global conflicts begin to brew, he faces rising suspicion from the local community regarding his cultural loyalties, testing the limits of free speech in Nebraska.

A prosperous German farmer in the local community. Unlike his neighbor August Yoeder, he is openly defiant when questioned about his loyalties, refusing to retract his statements or apologize for his heritage.

A gentle, soft-spoken young man from Virginia. Before enlisting, he worked at his uncle's bank in Topeka. He is among the thousands of small-town Americans thrust into a broader global struggle.

An overseeing officer aboard the military ship heading to France. He conducts himself with an air of absolute authority, though Claude suspects he gained his commission through political family connections rather than military competence.

The intelligent and stalwart physician serving the soldiers aboard the Anchises. He proves fiercely protective of his patients. He battles military bureaucracy to secure the necessary care and provisions for the men under his watch.

A flamboyant young aviator who grew up in small-town Iowa. He has since adopted a British accent and the persona of a worldly European. Adventurous and thrill-seeking, he claims to have flown numerous missions and represents the romanticized possibilities of wartime service.

A small, frail man from Mississippi who serves as the first officer of Claude's unit. Driven by a stubborn desire to elevate his social standing, he attempts to lead his men but quickly reveals his practical inadequacies as a military commander.

An elderly French couple who serve as warm, generous hosts for the arriving American troops. They provide the soldiers with domestic comforts like clean beds and warm baths. They treat the young men with maternal and paternal care.

A grateful French woman who regularly hosts and entertains American soldiers. She quickly puts Claude at ease, showing genuine curiosity about his home in Nebraska and expressing deep appreciation for the American presence in her liberated village.

A wealthy local grain merchant and protective father. He understands his daughter's eccentricities and tries to warn Claude about the challenges of marrying her.

Enid's sister who travels overseas to work as a missionary in a Chinese hospital.

A local girl who marries the burly farmer Leonard Dawson before he leaves to join the military.

An opera singer who travels to visit her sister's cultured household. She adds to the refined, artistic atmosphere of the Erlich home.

The selfish staff member in charge of resources on the military transport ship. He hoards vital supplies like eggs and orange juice in his office during a medical crisis.

The daughter of a starving French widow. She speaks enough English to communicate with the passing American troops and explain her family's tragic circumstances.