Natty Bumppo is a white frontiersman known to area tribes and settlers as Hawkeye and "La Longue Carabine." He possesses an unparalleled knowledge of the Hudson wilderness and acts as a cultural bridge between British colonists and Native American populations. He carries a distinct grooved-barrel rifle named "killdeer" and utilizes his sharp tracking skills to guide vulnerable travelers through hostile territory.

Alice is the younger daughter of Colonel Munro, named after his first love from his youth in Scotland. She relies heavily on her companions for physical safety in the brutal frontier environment but occasionally demonstrates firm moral conviction. She holds deep affection for her father and older sister, representing the more traditional British colonial culture within their traveling party.

Chingachgook is a highly respected Mohican warrior who wears his hair in a distinctive single long tuft. He is a lifelong companion to Natty Bumppo and shares the frontiersman's deep understanding of the forest. He maintains a quiet, stoic demeanor while displaying intense bravery and skill during skirmishes against enemy forces.

Cora is the elder daughter of Colonel Munro, born to his first wife, a woman of multiracial descent from the West Indies. She possesses dark hair, a bold personality, and sharp cunning. She confronts threats directly, speaking her mind to captors and allies alike, and constantly looks out for her younger sister's welfare.

Heyward is a major in the British forces originally from the Virginia colony. He is tasked with safely delivering Alice and Cora Munro to their father at Fort William Henry. Though he is a courageous and intelligent soldier, he lacks frontier experience and frequently relies on Natty Bumppo's guidance to survive the wild environment.

Magua is a Huron warrior known as "Le Renard Subtil" who initially poses as a helpful guide. He harbors deep resentment toward Colonel Munro due to a past humiliation involving alcohol. He uses his sharp intellect, physical prowess, and persuasive oratory skills to wage war against the British colonists and exact personal revenge on the Munro family.

Uncas is the son of Chingachgook and a fiercely capable Mohican warrior. He possesses exceptional tracking abilities and a striking, noble physical appearance that earns the immediate admiration of his allies. He operates with stoic determination and remains deeply loyal to his father and his companions during their dangerous wilderness journey.

Colonel Munro is a Scottish officer in the British army burdened by the heavy responsibility of commanding a besieged fort. He carries a complicated personal history, having spent years in the West Indies where he married his first wife before eventually finding his way to the American colonies. He faces intense military pressure from the encroaching French army and harbors deep love for his two daughters.

Gamut is a Connecticut singing teacher who specializes in religious psalmody. He is entirely unaccustomed to the harsh realities of the frontier and carries a pitch pipe rather than a weapon. Despite his physical unsuitability for wilderness survival, he proves surprisingly resilient and uses his musical talents to calm and comfort his companions during crises.

The Marquis of Montcalm commands the French forces laying siege to Fort William Henry. He is a shrewd military tactician who uses intercepted British communications to negotiate Colonel Munro's surrender. His authority over his vast array of Native American allies ultimately proves limited during the fort's evacuation.

Tamenund is a very old and highly respected former chief of the Delaware tribe. He acts as an ultimate authority figure and judge, settling disputes between the rival groups that enter his village. He carries the heavy weight of witnessing the decline of Native American power in the face of colonial expansion.