Arthur is a large, physically powerful farmer who feels most at home working his family's land in the small town of Struan. He offers steady reliability to those around him, often accepting heavy physical and emotional burdens without complaint. Because of his deeply dutiful nature, he frequently covers for his younger brother's reckless behavior to avoid upsetting his parents.

Jake is Arthur's younger brother, born after his mother suffers two miscarriages, which makes him her highly protected favorite. He is good-looking and outgoing, excelling at school while actively avoiding the manual labor required on the family farm. His impulsive behavior frequently leads to trouble, the consequences of which he expects Arthur to handle for him.

Ian is a restless high school student in the late 1950s who dreams of leaving Struan to avoid his expected future as the town's third-generation doctor. He takes a job working on the Dunn farm primarily as an excuse to be close to Laura Dunn, though he ends up spending most of his time doing hard physical labor in the fields. He struggles to navigate his parents' strained marriage and his own confusing ambitions.

Laura is the daughter of the local reverend who moves to Struan during World War II. She is gentle and beautiful, quickly drawing the attention of both Dunn brothers in their youth, and later becoming the object of Ian's infatuation. Her presence creates a deep emotional undercurrent at the farm and complicates the existing family dynamics.

Pete is Ian's best friend and a member of the Ojibway tribe living on the reservation near Struan. Confident and deeply connected to his home environment, he plans to stay in the north country to open a fishing-guide business. He provides a realistic perspective that often grounds Ian's naive views of the world.

Mr. Christopherson is the dedicated small-town doctor of Struan, following in his own father's footsteps. He runs his medical practice directly out of his home, treating local patients with quiet competence and deep compassion. He loves the north country and tries to maintain a sense of stability in his household despite his wife's obvious dissatisfaction.

Mrs. Christopherson is Ian's mother and a former nurse from Vancouver who feels vastly superior to the rural town of Struan. She is increasingly withdrawn from her family life, visibly unhappy with her surroundings, and harbors a deep desire to escape the isolation of the northern wilderness.

Jim is a local Ojibway man whose involvement in a violent altercation brings immediate tension to the town. His legal troubles create friction in the community, highlighting the divide between Struan and the nearby reservation while sparking debates between Ian and Pete.

Ted is a local boy who grows up alongside Arthur and eventually leaves Struan to fight in World War II. He represents the young men of the isolated community who eagerly step into the global conflict, facing the brutal realities of war far from home.

Henry is the stern, hardworking patriarch of the Dunn family who expects rigorous labor from his sons to keep the farm running. He heavily favors Arthur for his work ethic and obedience, while showing clear disappointment in Jake's laziness and avoidance of chores.

Mrs. Dunn is Arthur and Jake's mother, who suffers from intense anxiety regarding her children following two early miscarriages. She spoils Jake, her youngest, and aggressively protects him from physical labor or discipline, creating an unbalanced and strained dynamic in the household.

Carter is the eldest child of Arthur and Laura Dunn. He frequently seeks attention and gets into scrapes, often staying near the farmhouse to help his mother while his father works the extensive fields.

Cathy is Ian's high school girlfriend who desires a serious relationship with him. She is highly sentimental and deeply attached to Ian, though he views their relationship as a convenient distraction and struggles to match her level of affection.

Carl is one of Arthur's closest friends and a neighbor from the adjacent farm. He spends his weekends socializing with Arthur before eventually leaving the safety of Struan to fight in World War II alongside his brothers.

Otto is a local farmer whose land sits adjacent to the Dunn property, separated only by a river and a bridge. He relies heavily on his three sons to work the fields and struggles to maintain his livelihood when his boys leave to join the military.

Gertie is Carl's mother and Otto's wife, living on the farm adjacent to the Dunns. She anxiously awaits letters from her sons fighting overseas while watching her husband struggle to keep their agricultural operation afloat.

Reverend March is the local clergyman who moves to Struan during World War II with his daughter, Laura. He stays at the Luntz farm and frequently relies on Arthur's practical skills to help him manage unfamiliar machinery and rural living conditions.

Dieter is a German prisoner of war assigned to work on the Dunn farm when the local men are away fighting. He becomes a crucial source of labor for Arthur, quietly integrating into the daily rhythms of the farm despite the ongoing global conflict.

Bernard is a German prisoner of war who works the fields alongside Dieter and Arthur to keep the local agricultural operations running. His presence on the farm highlights the severe labor shortage impacting Struan during the war.

Mr. Hardy is the high school guidance counselor in Struan who presses Ian to make concrete decisions about his future. He challenges Ian's bluff about wanting to become a farmer, forcing the young man to confront his true ambitions.