A violently abusive Marine Corps fighter pilot who refers to himself as "The Great Santini." He imposes a rigid military command structure on his household, treating his family as a subordinate squadron by conducting Saturday morning room inspections and initiating surprise pre-dawn war games. He relies heavily on his professional identity as an untouchable airborne warrior and interprets any challenge to his dominance as a fundamental threat to his authority.

A sensitive and athletic 17-year-old entering his senior year of high school. He struggles with a profound ambivalence toward his domineering father, experiencing both a deep need for paternal approval and a desperate desire for independence. As he transfers to his latest school in Ravenel, South Carolina, he excels at basketball and seeks out alternative role models to help establish his own moral code outside the strict military framework.

A stunningly beautiful woman with deep Southern roots who serves as the family's matriarch. She orchestrates the family's life to anticipate and appease her husband's volatile moods. She works constantly to defuse tension and maintain a facade of normalcy, employing deep denial and rigid religious devotion to survive the physical and emotional toll of her marriage.

Ben's sharp-witted and cynical younger sister. She relies on biting sarcasm and theatrical rebellion to cope with her family's turbulent dynamics, and she often acts as the household's unvarnished truth-teller. Feeling alienated by her self-perceived lack of beauty compared to her mother, she uses dark humor and passive-aggressive acts to openly resist the military subjugation of their home.

The youngest son of the Meecham family. He attempts to survive the dangerous waters of his household by eagerly seeking his father's approval. He frequently imitates the patriarch's aggressive behavior and macho catchphrases in a childish effort to project strength and avoid discipline.

The youngest Meecham daughter. Her youth and femininity often cast her in the role of the favored child, as she poses no physical or ego threat to her father's dominance. She frequently aligns herself with him during family disputes, adapting to the household tension through allegiance to its most powerful figure.

A local Black man who makes a living selling flowers from a wagon and tending to bees and rescued dogs. He introduces Ben to the natural rhythms of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and provides a quiet, gentle model of masculinity that contrasts sharply with the aggressive posturing found in the Meecham home. His physical vulnerabilities make him a frequent target of local harassment.

A pragmatic Marine Corps colonel stationed at the Ravenel air base. As a longtime friend who has served alongside the Meecham patriarch for twenty years, he understands the political landscape of the squadron. He tries to offer guidance on surviving their hostile commanding officer while remaining fully committed to the warrior ethos of the Corps.

The group commander at the Ravenel base who harbors a deep, long-standing animosity toward his new subordinate. He is a strict administrator who promises to watch closely for any misstep, assigning command solely out of practical necessity rather than personal preference.

A Jewish student at Calhoun High School who quickly becomes Ben's closest friend. He is quick-witted and eager to invent elaborate, sophisticated personas to impress peers, and provides Ben with a much-needed sense of camaraderie and escape in their new town.

A local teenage bully with a switchblade and a history of disciplinary issues. He embodies the town's underlying prejudice, frequently harassing marginalized residents and initiating physical confrontations with newcomers.

A recent widow hired as the Meecham family's housekeeper in Ravenel. She is a steady, observant presence in the home who helps connect the newly arrived family with the local community through her son's knowledge of the area.

An eccentric, highly revered senior English teacher at Calhoun High. He rejects traditional textbooks in favor of periodicals and music, running a chaotic but intellectually stimulating classroom that challenges students to think independently.

The formidable, former-boxer principal of Calhoun High School. He enforces strict discipline but also demonstrates a protective empathy, and provides a firm but grounded model of ethical authority for his students.

A strict nun who teaches catechism classes in Ravenel. She represents a rigid, shame-based approach to religious and moral instruction, demanding absolute obedience and handing out severe punishments for minor infractions.

Lillian's mother, who provides a temporary home for her daughter and grandchildren in Atlanta while her son-in-law is deployed overseas on an aircraft carrier.

A local high school girl who begins dating Sammy Wertzberger. She represents the normal teenage social life the boys attempt to participate in before tragedy strikes.

A football coach at Calhoun High who openly disdains basketball, despite being tasked with coaching the team. He favors a rough, physical style of play and is critical of polished, showy athletic skills.

A deputy sheriff in Ravenel who becomes the target of a reckless teenage blackmail scheme. He quickly demonstrates a ruthless willingness to protect his reputation through physical violence and intimidation.