Oliver is the richest jeweller in England, operating a world-famous shop near Bond Street. He climbed from a childhood of poverty in a dark alley to a luxurious lifestyle through intense ambition. Despite his wealth and custom tailoring, he remains dissatisfied. He constantly searches for the next opportunity for social advancement, viewing the aristocracy as his ultimate prize.

The Duchess is a large, imposing woman of the English nobility who commands space with the self-assurance of her inherited privilege. She wears ostentatious, brightly colored clothes that reflect her public persona. Behind closed doors, she reveals her financial desperation and gambling debts. She relies on manipulative tactics and her family connections to extract money from Oliver.

Mademoiselle is an unnamed woman from Oliver's past. She used to pick red roses from a garden in Richmond and place them in his buttonhole every morning. She ultimately married a man from the local brewery rather than remaining with the ambitious jeweller.

Diana is the daughter of an English Duke and the Duchess of Lambourne. She belongs to the highest echelon of the aristocracy, representing the elite social world that Oliver desperately wishes to enter. Her presence at the family's country estate serves as a powerful lure for the jeweller to ignore his practical business instincts.

Oliver's mother is a figure from his impoverished past whose memory continues to influence his present life. Her photograph sits on the mantel in his luxurious surroundings, serving as a constant reminder of his roots. She acts as his internal conscience, warning him against foolish decisions when he interacts with the nobility.

Mr. Pedder is a man associated with the local brewery near Richmond. He represents the modest, working-class life that Oliver left behind in his pursuit of extreme wealth. He married the woman who used to place roses in Oliver's lapel.

The Duke is a strict, straight-laced aristocrat with side whiskers. He holds rigid expectations for his family and remains completely unaware of his wife's gambling debts. His lack of knowledge gives Oliver significant leverage over the Duchess.