Tom is the patriarch of the first generation followed in the novel. He runs a successful agricultural enterprise on the Brangwen family land. Despite his outward success, he suffers from deep insecurities and struggles to understand the women in his life. He desires a deep connection with his wife but often finds their cultural differences difficult to bridge, leading him to invest his emotional energy into his stepdaughter.

Lydia is a Polish refugee with a tragic past, having lost her first husband and two children to illness. She works through episodes of severe depression as she adapts to her new life in England. Though she desires Tom, her fear of losing her independence creates a barrier between them in their early marriage.

Anna is Tom's stepdaughter and the central figure of the family's second generation. She rejects formal education and traditional social circles, feeling most comfortable on the farm with her stepfather. As she matures into adulthood, her intensely practical nature and her disbelief in organized religion create severe friction in her marriage.

Will is an artisan and Anna's step-cousin. He possesses a highly spiritual devotion to the church, expressing his faith through intricate wood carvings. His dark moods and volatile temper create immense friction in his marriage. He seeks emotional control by alternatively doting on and punishing his eldest child.

Ursula represents the third generation, seeking a life entirely different from her mother's domestic choices. She pursues financial and intellectual independence by securing a job as a schoolteacher and preparing for college. She questions both religious dogma and traditional gender roles in her quest for selfhood, engaging in intense relationships that test her boundaries.

Anton is an army engineer who soon leaves to fight in the Boer War. He strongly believes in nationalism and the British Empire, comfortably surrendering his individuality to the military apparatus. His traditional views on duty create conflict with Ursula's desire for personal liberation.

Winifred is a refined schoolteacher who introduces her students to philosophy and critiques of organized religion. She initiates a secret romantic relationship with Ursula, serving as an early model of female independence and intellectual freedom.

Gudrun is Ursula's younger sister and a highly talented artist. She enrolls in art school in Nottingham to train in sculpture. She easily excels in her creative work and receives the bulk of her mother's attention during her childhood.

Maggie is a politically active schoolteacher who introduces Ursula to the suffragette movement. She holds a romanticized view of love and frequently accompanies Ursula on bicycle trips across the countryside.

Anthony is Maggie's brother, an isolated but content farmer. He offers Ursula a chance at a quiet, rural life by proposing to her, which she ultimately rejects.

Mr. Harby is the stern headmaster who enforces rigid discipline. He represents the mechanical, unforgiving nature of the modern industrial education system.

Fred is the son of Tom and Lydia who stays on Marsh Farm. He follows in his father's agricultural footsteps and takes on the massive task of repairing the farm after a devastating flood.

The son of Tom and Lydia who leaves the farm to study engineering in London. He travels extensively before settling down to a conventional domestic life in Wiggiston.

A Polish expatriate and Anton's father. After his first wife dies, he marries an English noblewoman, bringing an air of cosmopolitan sophistication to the rural region.

A troublesome student who continually defies Ursula's authority. His persistent misbehavior leads to a violent confrontation that tests Ursula's moral boundaries as a teacher.

Tom's father, who raises six children at Marsh Farm while working in a lace factory. His death leaves Tom in charge of the agricultural dynasty.

Tom Brangwen's brother who pursues an industrial career in Nottinghamshire. He becomes cultured and educated, making his brother Tom envious.

A young Polish doctor and patriot who brings Lydia to London as a refugee. He suffers from deep depression and dies shortly after the birth of his daughter.

One of Ursula's younger sisters. She occasionally clashes physically and verbally with Ursula, particularly over matters of religious conviction.

Another of Will and Anna's daughters, growing up in the chaotic environment of a large, frequently arguing family at Yew Cottage.

An English noblewoman who becomes Baron Skrebensky's second wife. Her flirtatious behavior during a visit makes Anna deeply jealous of her husband's attention.