Maggie is an intelligent and imaginative girl with dark skin and dark hair. These physical traits earn her frequent criticism from her extended family. She loves her father and completely adores her older brother, Tom. Her thirst for knowledge and empathetic nature put her at odds with the rigid society of St. Ogg's. She often seeks comfort in books and nature when feeling isolated by her community's expectations.

Tom is Maggie's older brother. He is an active and energetic boy who prefers outdoor activities and practical business over academic studies. His father sends him away to be educated by a clergyman to secure his social mobility. This move causes Tom significant academic stress. He possesses a strong sense of family duty and pride but acts highly critical and unforgiving toward those who disappoint him.

Philip is the intelligent, artistically inclined son of a prominent local lawyer. He has a physical deformity in his back. This condition isolates him from typical physical activities and invites pity from others. He develops a quick intellectual and emotional connection with Maggie by recognizing a shared feeling of isolation.

Mr. Tulliver is the proud, stubborn owner of Dorlcote Mill. He values his family name and hopes to advance his son's socio-economic status through formal schooling. He serves as the only adult who consistently defends Maggie's intelligence and wild spirit. His tendency to hold grudges and engage in risky legal battles threatens the family's security.

Stephen is the son of a prosperous businessman in St. Ogg's. He occupies a high social position and acts with the confidence of a young man used to comfort and privilege. He enjoys music and society, initially focusing his attentions on Lucy before finding his focus shifting unexpectedly.

Bessy Tulliver is a member of the respectable Dodson family. She values appearances, fine household goods, and the opinions of her strict sisters above all else. She frequently frets about Maggie's unmanageable hair and dark complexion, preferring the quiet obedience of her niece Lucy.

Mrs. Glegg is the eldest and most outspoken of the Dodson sisters. She strictly adheres to her family's traditions and demands proper behavior from everyone around her. She firmly controls her own finances and frequently lectures the Tullivers about their choices.

Sophy Pullet is one of Bessy Tulliver's sisters, known for her obsession with cleanliness and illness. She lives at the immaculate Garum Firs farm and takes immense pride in her extensive collection of medicines and beautiful mourning bonnets.

Lucy is Maggie's cousin, a fair-skinned and exceptionally well-behaved young woman who perfectly fits the Victorian feminine ideal. She is gentle, entirely agreeable, and deeply fond of Maggie. She completely lacks the critical nature of her mother and aunts.

Mr. Wakem is a wealthy and influential lawyer in St. Ogg's. He serves as Mr. Tulliver's primary rival in business and legal matters. He is highly protective of his son Philip and enjoys wielding professional power over his competitors.

Bob is a lower-class boy who forms an early friendship with Tom Tulliver. He is fiercely loyal and generous. He operates by his own strict code of honor even when dealing with those of higher social standing, becoming an important source of support for the Tulliver children.

Gritty Moss is Mr. Tulliver's sister, a worn-down mother of eight who struggles financially after marrying against her family's wishes. Her life heavily contrasts with the wealthy Dodson aunts. She remains deeply affectionate toward her brother and her niece Maggie.

Reverend Walter Stelling is an ambitious clergyman who supplements his income by tutoring young boys. He applies a rigid classical curriculum to all his students, completely failing to recognize or accommodate Tom's practical learning style.

Mr. Deane is an increasingly successful businessman who built his wealth from the ground up. He is highly practical and observant. He prefers modern business methods over traditional farming or milling.

Dr. Kenn is a local physician and prominent figure in St. Ogg's. He acts as a voice of reason and Christian charity within the community. He offers practical support and employment assistance when others turn to gossip.

Mr. Riley is a well-respected auctioneer and appraiser in St. Ogg's. He frequently advises local businessmen and specifically recommends Mr. Stelling's school for Tom to secure his own professional alliances.

Mr. Glegg is the wealthy and respectable husband of Aunt Glegg. He enjoys reading natural history and tending to his garden. He usually tolerates his wife's stubbornness unless she causes public arguments.

Mr. Pullet is a quiet, unassuming farmer who yields entirely to his wife's strict household rules. He tries to entertain visiting children by playing songs on a musical snuffbox.

Mrs. Deane is one of Bessy Tulliver's sisters. She takes great pride in her daughter Lucy's perfect manners and her husband's rising wealth, often looking down on the Tulliver children's messy behavior.

Mrs. Stelling is the wife of Reverend Stelling. She manages the domestic side of the tutoring business and frequently relies on Tom to entertain her young daughter.

Mr. Poulter is a local schoolmaster and military veteran brought in to assist with Tom's education. He connects much better with Tom by sharing stories of military experience and secretly lending him a sword.

Luke is the head miller at Dorlcote Mill. He is a practical, working-class man who kindly humors Maggie's questions about books and foreign countries, even though he prefers practical knowledge himself.

Mr. Moss is a poor farmer living in Basset. His lack of financial security forces his wife to constantly borrow money from her brother, Mr. Tulliver.