Rachel is a 24-year-old young woman traveling to South America. Raised primarily by her aunts after her mother's early passing, she has lived an isolated life focused almost entirely on playing the piano. Her financial privilege and sheltered upbringing leave her inexperienced with socialization, romance, and the broader world.

Helen is an educated, observant married woman in her early forties who leaves London on a lengthy trip to South America to recover from depression. She serves as a maternal figure to her niece, providing a practical education about adult life through literature and independence. She possesses a confident social grace that allows her to converse easily with a wide variety of people.

Terence is a young, independent English novelist staying at a hotel in Santa Marina. Unlike his more cynical companions, he maintains a genuine interest in understanding the emotions and experiences of the people around him. He questions societal expectations regarding marriage and seeks authentic connections over formal conventions.

St. John is a 24-year-old student at King's College who comes from a privileged, intellectually rigorous background. He exhibits a superiority complex and harbors dismissive attitudes toward women, often hiding his physical insecurities behind academic arrogance. Despite his elitist exterior, he deeply desires social acceptance.

Richard is a conservative and patriotic politician serving in Parliament. He believes strongly in the superiority of the British Empire and adheres to strict traditional gender roles, dismissing women's political capabilities. He values his career highly, though he occasionally acts on impulsive desires that contradict his orderly life.

Clarissa is a wealthy socialite who completely supports her husband's political career and conservative worldview. She values art and literature, arguing that they provide a necessary distraction from reality. She finds a sense of purpose in her domestic role and projects an image of absolute reliance on her husband.

Willoughby is a successful businessman and the owner of the Euphrosyne. He spends much of his time traveling for his commerce and harbors ambitions of entering Parliament. He loves his daughter but recognizes his own inability to prepare her for high-society networking, readily agreeing to let her stay with her aunt.

Ridley is a dedicated scholar and classicist who spends most of his time reading Greek texts and analyzing poetry. He prefers the isolation of his study to social interaction and often remains detached from the emotional dynamics developing around him.

William is a linguistic translator who joins the voyage to retrieve ancient artifacts from the sea. He finds social interactions tiresome and eventually decides to stay at a hotel rather than the private villa with his traveling companions.

Susan is an English tourist staying in Santa Marina who desires marriage to secure her social standing. She closely analyzes her physical appearance and eagerly pursues a conventional domestic future.

Arthur is a 32-year-old successful barrister traveling in South America. He finds his perspective on the world shifting after meeting Susan and actively courts her during their stay at the hotel.

Evelyn is an independent, radical-thinking young Englishwoman who rejects traditional gender roles. Instead of rushing into marriage, she dreams of traveling to Moscow to pursue a life as a political activist. She often finds herself entangled with multiple suitors but prioritizes her own autonomy.

Miss Allan is an older, unmarried Englishwoman who supports herself by working and writing. She projects a kind, peaceful energy and encourages the younger women to try new experiences.

Mrs. Thornbury is an older English tourist who actively arranges social gatherings and excursions for the guests at the hotel. She holds traditional views but is unafraid to challenge intellectual snobbery when she encounters it.

Mr. Thornbury is an older English tourist who strictly enforces conservative social norms at the hotel. He quickly demands the eviction of a local woman he suspects of being a prostitute.

Mrs. Flushing is an eccentric Englishwoman staying at the hotel who organizes the week-long steamboat excursion to visit a native village.

Mr. Flushing is a tourist who joins his wife in exploring the wilder parts of South America, pointing out historical landmarks during their river journey.

Mr. Grice is the steward of the Euphrosyne. He possesses a deep respect for the ocean, arguing that its massive scale renders nations and human empires insignificant.

Mrs. Elliot is an English tourist who feels self-conscious about her inability to have children. She spends her time gossiping and reading the news with the other hotel guests.

Mr. Elliot is an English tourist who occasionally runs into Ridley Ambrose around the town of Santa Marina.

Aunt Emma is Susan Warrington's relative and traveling companion in Santa Marina. She relies heavily on her niece for assistance during their vacation.

Mr. Perrot is an English tourist at the hotel who courts Evelyn.

Sinclair is a suitor of Evelyn's who reacts poorly when she rejects his advances, aggressively kissing her against her wishes.

Lucy is one of Rachel's aunts in England who provided a highly sheltered and conservative upbringing after the death of Rachel's mother.

Eleanor is Rachel's aunt, responsible for raising her niece in a strict, traditional environment that prioritized music over real-world experience.

Mrs. Chailey is Rachel's maid. She struggles to adapt to life aboard the Euphrosyne, feeling purposeless without a proper house to maintain.

Mr. Bax is an English preacher in Santa Marina whose disjointed sermons inspire Rachel to question her own religious beliefs.