Newland is a young, successful lawyer who considers himself more worldly and well-read than his peers. He strives to conform to high society's strict moral expectations by seeking a proper marriage. His comfortable life is disrupted when he experiences a powerful attraction to a woman who challenges his worldview. He struggles internally between social duty and personal desire.

Ellen is the vibrant and fiercely independent cousin of May. Raised in Europe, she returns to New York seeking sanctuary after separating from an abusive husband. Her sophisticated tastes and bohemian lifestyle quickly make her a target of gossip among the city's rigid upper class. She refuses to behave like a disgraced outcast, maintaining her lively personality despite heavy social pressure.

May is a tall, blonde, athletic young woman who perfectly embodies the pristine ideals of 1870s New York society. She is thoroughly trained in the polite, evasive manners of her class and actively avoids any mention of unpleasantness. Beneath her seemingly naive exterior lies a quiet determination to uphold the institutions she has been raised to revere.

Catherine is the obese, outspoken, and wealthy matriarch of the Mingott family. Having secured her social position long ago, she flaunts conventions by living on the ground floor of her home and speaking her mind with shocking frankness. She harbors a soft spot for her similarly audacious granddaughter.

Augusta Welland is May's mother and a vigilant custodian of restrictive social values. She dedicates her life to maintaining an idealized, problem-free environment for her family. She willfully ignores any complex or unpleasant realities, training her daughter to do the same.

Mr. Welland is May's passive and frequently ill father. He relies entirely on his wife to manage his life and health. He strictly adheres to his comfortable routines and retreats to mild climates during the winter.

Newland's widowed mother and unmarried sister live a quiet, insular life together. They are intensely shy, old-fashioned, and suspicious of any deviation from conservative New York norms. Despite their aversion to scandal, they eagerly consume gossip about the society figures they avoid.

Julius is a wealthy banker of obscure origins who preys on vulnerable women. Despite his abrasive manners and poorly concealed affairs, society tolerates him because he hosts lavish events. He is arrogant, aggressive, and openly pursues Ellen when she returns to the city.

Regina is Beaufort's stunning wife, originally a penniless beauty from a proud Southern family. She acts as a glamorous figurehead for his extravagant lifestyle while turning a blind eye to his blatant infidelities.

Medora is a serially widowed, eccentric woman who spends her life wandering across Europe. Her progressive and unconventional child-rearing methods are blamed by New York society for Ellen's current scandalous predicament.

M. Riviere is a modest French tutor who possesses an unexpectedly complex history. He is an intellectual and observant man who crosses the Atlantic to serve as an envoy. He possesses intimate knowledge of the dangers lurking in the European society Ellen left behind.

The Count is a fabulously wealthy, cruel Polish nobleman. Though he remains in Europe, his controlling and abusive presence looms over the narrative. He actively attempts to force his estranged wife to return to him to save his public image.

Sillerton is an elderly bachelor who functions as the premier gossip of elite society. He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of everyone's family history, indiscretions, and social standing.

Henry sits at the absolute pinnacle of New York high society alongside his wife. He is a retiring, quiet man whose rare interventions in social matters carry the weight of absolute law. He extends vital social protection to Ellen upon her arrival.

Louisa is the pale, frail, and formidable doyenne of New York society. Her invitations are the ultimate seal of social approval. She uses her immense influence sparingly but decisively to dictate social norms.

Mr. Letterblair is the senior partner at Newland's law firm. He is a pragmatic, highly conventional lawyer who believes deeply in preserving family reputations over personal happiness or legal rights.

Ned is a struggling journalist who lives in a bohemian neighborhood outside the strict confines of elite society. He provides Newland with a rare intellectual outlet and a completely different perspective on life.