Fatou is a resourceful, observant woman originally from the Ivory Coast who lives in Willesden, London. She works as a housekeeper for the Derawal family. After reading a newspaper article, she realizes her situation closely resembles modern-day domestic enslavement. She finds moments of independence through her secret, weekly swims at a local health center and uses her theological discussions to understand the suffering she observes in the world.

Andrew is a Nigerian business student living in London who serves as Fatou’s closest friend and confidant. As a college student with internet access, he provides Fatou with facts and statistics about global events. He acts as an intellectual sparring partner for Fatou, debating philosophy, religion, and history during their weekly Sunday meetings.

Mrs. Derawal is a business owner who operates multiple mini-marts in London alongside her husband. She employs Fatou as a housekeeper but maintains total control over her by withholding her passport and refusing to pay her wages. She is strict and expects complete subservience within her affluent suburban household.

The narrator represents the collective voice of the Willesden neighborhood, frequently speaking in the first-person plural. They observe the daily routines of the neighborhood, including Fatou's movements and the perpetual badminton game at the embassy. The narrator acts as a conduit for local gossip and communal attitudes.

Mr. Derawal is Mrs. Derawal's husband and co-owner of the family's mini-mart businesses. He benefits from Fatou's unpaid labor in his household and generally detaches himself from the daily management of the domestic staff. He prefers to avoid direct confrontation regarding the realities of his household.

Asma is the youngest daughter in the Derawal household. She frequently interacts with Fatou during daily routines. As a child, she sometimes treats the household staff poorly by mimicking the disrespectful behavior modeled by her parents.