William is an unassuming, dutiful young man who initially studies agriculture to help his family's farm. After taking a mandatory English course, he develops a profound passion for literature. This discovery prompts him to shift his focus to the humanities, setting him on a lifelong path as an academic. He relies heavily on the solitude and intense work ethic he learned during his childhood.

Edith is a young woman from a wealthy banking family in St. Louis. Raised with privilege and a formal education, she finds herself constrained by the social expectations placed on women in her era. She marries William quickly to gain autonomy and establish her own household, though she struggles deeply with domestic dissatisfaction.

Hollis is a Harvard-educated academic who treats his colleagues with ironic politeness while proving highly popular with the undergraduate students. He possesses significant administrative power and fiercely protects his favored students against criticism. His physical disability makes him highly sensitive to perceived slights.

Gordon is an outgoing, conventionally masculine student who relies on his social charm rather than intense academic rigor to advance his career. He views the university as a place to serve society and positions himself for administrative leadership roles. He joins the military during World War I, embracing traditional expectations of duty.

Grace is William and Edith's daughter. As a young child, she is quiet and content, preferring to spend hours playing silently in her father's study. She becomes the center of a subtle household struggle as her parents project their differing needs onto her daily routine.

Katherine is a dedicated, highly intelligent graduate student at the University of Missouri. She is deeply invested in the study of literature and presents excellent, well-researched academic work. She develops an intense connection with William that challenges the boundaries of their respective roles in the academy.

Archer is an English professor at the University of Missouri. He teaches a mandatory sophomore literature course and possesses a unique ability to awaken his students' minds using classic texts. He serves as a crucial mentor, encouraging William to dedicate his life to the humanities.

David is an outspoken graduate student studying literature. He theorizes that the university functions as a sanctuary for those who are unfit for the demands of the outside world. He possesses a sharp intellect and a candid, cynical view of academic institutions.

Charles is a PhD student who gains special admission into William's seminar. He frequently interrupts lectures and prefers argumentative rhetoric over completing assigned readings. He uses his intellect defensively and acts as a central figure in a major departmental conflict.

Jim is a relative of William's mother. He owns a farm near the university where he provides room and board in exchange for heavy manual labor.

Caroline is a woman who becomes engaged to Gordon Finch. She represents the conventional, socially appropriate domestic life that Gordon seeks as he climbs the administrative ladder at the university.

Professor Ehrhardt is an amiable faculty member in charge of the freshman English program at the university. He attempts to manage disputes regarding teaching assignments and curriculum choices.

Edward is a young man attending the university. He dates Grace and quickly becomes entangled in the Stoner family's domestic pressures when her parents intervene in their relationship.