A former Pullman porter who has escaped prison in the United States to become the autocratic emperor of a remote Caribbean island. Cunning and highly ambitious, he maintains control by exploiting the local population's beliefs, notably fabricating a myth that he can only be killed by a silver bullet. His ruthless pursuit of wealth and power masks a deep-seated paranoia regarding his past crimes.

A white, Cockney sailor and trader with a sickly yellow complexion from the tropical climate. He initially hires Jones when the latter first arrives on the island. Now, he outwardly feigns subservience to the emperor while secretly harboring deep resentment and racist contempt for a Black man holding more power than himself.

An impoverished local inhabitant who sneaks into the palace after the other servants have fled. Barefoot and wearing a red bandana, she displays deep fear of the emperor and provides Smithers with the initial news of the impending uprising.

A leadership figure among the island's Indigenous population. He spearheads the resistance against Jones's tyrannical regime, organizing his people to counter the emperor's fabricated myth of invincibility.

An enigmatic, aged Indigenous figure adorned with animal fur, antelope horns, and red body paint. He appears during Jones's journey through the forest, performing a ritualistic dance that summons forces from the nearby river.

A middle-aged man who formerly worked alongside Jones as a Pullman porter. He represents a dark chapter from Jones's past in the United States and serves as a psychological manifestation of the emperor's buried guilt.

A massive, fearsome creature with gleaming green eyes that resides in the great river. It is summoned by the Witch-Doctor and represents an ancient, primal force that demands submission from those who encounter it.