Regina is an ambitious woman in her forties living in Alabama in 1900. Cut out of her father's inheritance due to her gender, she relies on her strategic business skills to secure her own wealth. She dreams of leaving the South for a lavish life in Chicago and views a new cotton mill investment as her ticket to independence.

Ben is the eldest Hubbard brother and a calculating businessman. He acts as the pacifying mediator between his siblings but constantly maneuvers situations to his own financial advantage. He prefers to keep his hands clean while arranging deals that rely on exploiting cheap labor in the South.

Oscar is the younger Hubbard brother, known for his quick temper and cruelty. He married into the Southern aristocracy to secure land and status, and he actively seeks to advance his own financial standing above all else. He spends much of his time shooting animals for sport rather than for food.

Horace is Regina's husband and a banker who suffers from a severe heart condition. Having spent months away receiving treatment, he returns home exhausted and begins reevaluating his life's legacy. He possesses a strong moral compass that puts him at odds with the Hubbard family's exploitative business plans.

Birdie is the only member of the family born into the old Southern aristocracy, having grown up at the Lionnet plantation. She is a timid, nervous woman who uses alcohol to cope with her miserable marriage and the loss of her family's wealth. She finds fleeting solace in music and memories of a kinder past.

Alexandra, often called Zan, is the 17-year-old daughter of Regina and Horace. Caught between childhood and adulthood, she possesses a natural kindness that contrasts sharply with the Hubbard family's greed. She is observant and increasingly aware of the manipulation occurring around her.

Leo is the son of Oscar and Birdie, employed at the bank where his uncle Horace works. He is a reckless young man who spends his time chasing women in Mobile and occasionally stealing small amounts of money. He eagerly participates in his father's schemes to gain wealth without putting in honest work.

Addie is a Black woman who works for the Giddens household and serves as the moral center of the home. She observes the family's ruthless behavior with quiet judgment and recognizes the harm caused by those who stand by while others are exploited. She is fiercely devoted to Alexandra's well-being.

William Marshall is a wealthy investor from Chicago looking to partner in a Southern cotton mill. He is charmed by the Hubbards' hospitality and their promise of cheap labor. He remains completely unaware of the deep dysfunction and cruelty hiding beneath their polite facade.

Cal is a Black man employed by the Giddens family. He carries out errands and manages household tasks during the volatile family conflicts. He handles the tense environment carefully, particularly when dealing with the demanding Hubbard siblings.