Carla is a young woman living on a rural Canadian farm with her husband, Clark. Having eloped at eighteen in search of a more authentic life, she now finds herself socially isolated, tending to boarded horses and managing her husband's volatile moods. She is deeply attached to her missing goat, Flora, and struggles with feelings of dependency and fear in her increasingly strained marriage.

Clark is Carla's husband, a restless and combative man who frequently alienates local townspeople with his volatile temper. He runs a struggling horse-boarding business and spends much of his time brooding at his computer. His controlling nature and erratic behavior cast a shadow of implicit menace over his home life.

Sylvia is an older, widowed botany professor who lives near Carla and Clark. Following the death of her poet husband, she seeks a quiet routine but finds herself drawn to Carla's plight. Possessing independent wealth and higher education, she offers a stark contrast to Carla's situation and attempts to serve as a supportive patron.

Juliet is a highly intelligent, independent young woman with degrees in classical literature. Skeptical of the patriarchal academic world, she navigates early adulthood with a mix of bold intellectual confidence and emotional naivete. She often interprets her life and chance encounters through the dramatic lens of Greek tragedy.

Eric is a rugged fisherman with former medical training who meets Juliet during a train journey. He is candid, grounded, and carries the heavy burden of caring for his bedridden wife. His steady demeanor and openness draw Juliet into an unexpected intimacy.

Penelope is Juliet's daughter, raised initially in a remote coastal town before relocating to Vancouver. She grows up navigating her mother's strong personality and intellectual presence. As she ages, she seeks space from her mother's world, eventually pursuing a deeply private spiritual path.

Grace is a practical young woman from a modest background working as a hotel waitress. Orphaned young and raised by her great-aunt and uncle, she possesses a fierce instinct for education and self-sufficiency. Her introduction to her fiancé's affluent family exposes her to a world of intellectual comfort, though she quickly observes the emotional tensions beneath their polished exterior.

Maury is a steady, predictable young man from an affluent family who views Grace through a romanticized lens. He represents stability and comfort, offering Grace an entry into a privileged world. However, his earnestness often feels dull compared to the complexities Grace observes in the rest of his family.

Neil is Mrs. Travers's son from her first marriage and a doctor whose life is marked by restlessness and a severe alcohol addiction. Unlike his stepbrother Maury, Neil carries an air of dark experience and emotional rawness. He quickly forms an unspoken, intense bond with Grace, who recognizes a shared familiarity with hardship in him.

Mrs. Travers is the cultured, well-read matriarch of the Travers family. She represents the effortless composure and intellectual life that Grace deeply admires. Despite her comfortable surroundings, she occasionally suffers from "nerves" and harbors deep anxieties about her eldest son, Neil.

Lauren is a sensitive, observant young girl who moves to a small Canadian town with her unpredictable parents. Feeling alienated at her new school and overwhelmed by her parents' intense arguments, she seeks comfort outside her home. This desire for connection leads her to form an unusual friendship with an older woman at a local hotel.

Harry is Lauren's father, a former magazine employee who embraces an unconventional, flexible lifestyle. He encourages his daughter to find the human interest in everyday people, though his own life is marked by heavy drinking and intense marital disputes. He attempts to be honest with Lauren but struggles to shield her from his household's disarray.

Eileen is Lauren's mother, a woman who frequently finds herself overwhelmed by anxiety and the demands of her chaotic marriage. Like her husband, she relies heavily on alcohol and engages in explosive arguments that disrupt their home life. She is fiercely protective of her daughter but struggles with the emotional scars of her past.

Delphine is a lonely older woman working at a hotel in a small Canadian town. Carrying heavy grief from her past, she fixates on Lauren, offering the young girl attention and stories. While initially comforting, her intense focus on Lauren gradually becomes overbearing and unsettling.

Robin is a nurse in her mid-twenties living in a small Ontario town. As the primary caretaker for her chronically ill sister, she finds her daily life restrictive and burdensome. She seeks escape through annual, solitary trips to Stratford to watch Shakespeare plays, looking for a sense of romance and transformation outside her domestic duties.

Joanne is Robin's older sister, severely asthmatic and largely confined to their home. She is cynical and highly critical of Robin's theatrical interests, viewing her sister's excursions with contempt. Her constant need for care acts as a suffocating anchor on Robin's life.

Danilo is an immigrant from Montenegro who repairs clocks in a small shop in Stratford. He is polite, gentlemanly, and carries an air of mystery that deeply captivates Robin. His brief but intense connection with her sparks a powerful promise of future romance.

Nancy is a young woman in 1920s Ontario who records her life in a dramatic, self-centered diary. She prides herself on her daring spirit and frequently plays jokes to ensure she remains the center of attention. Her desire to impress worldly outsiders heavily influences her social interactions, leading to unforeseen consequences for her friends.

Tessa is a quiet, eccentric young woman rumored to possess genuine psychic abilities. Though she is initially self-sufficient and modest about her premonitions, her life shifts dramatically when her talents attract outside attention. She is highly vulnerable to exploitation due to her isolated nature.

Ollie is Wilf's worldly and sophisticated cousin, having traveled extensively and survived a bout with tuberculosis. He brings an air of exoticism and ambition to the small town, instantly captivating Nancy. Recognizing financial potential in Tessa's abilities, he approaches her with promises of scientific study and travel.

Flora is Carla's pet goat, a spirited animal that grew deeply attached to her over time. Originally fond of Clark, Flora's shift in loyalty mirrors the shifting dynamics on the farm. Her sudden disappearance serves as a significant source of anxiety for Carla.

Sara is Juliet's mother, a former schoolteacher living in a quiet Ontario town. She suffers from a severe heart condition that renders her physically frail, yet she maintains a warm, spiritually inclined outlook. Her traditional domestic life clashes softly with Juliet's modern choices.

Sam is Juliet's father, a pragmatic man who recently quit teaching to become a greengrocer. He is acutely concerned with appearances and fears the judgment of his conservative neighbors regarding his daughter's unmarried status. His emotional detachment places a barrier between him and Juliet.

Wilf is a dependable, practical young doctor who proposes to Nancy despite her sometimes exasperating behavior. He represents conventionality and domestic stability, offering Nancy a comfortable but entirely predictable life in their small town.