Grace is the twenty-year-old daughter of the local timber merchant. Her recent, expensive education has refined her tastes and manners, making her feel somewhat alienated from the rustic, working-class environment of her childhood. She finds herself torn between her deep roots in the woodland community and the newly cultivated expectations placed upon her by her family.

Giles is a hardworking apple farmer and cider maker who lives a modest, traditional life in Little Hintock. He is stoic, deeply connected to the natural world, and highly respectful of social norms and property lines. He holds onto a long-standing hope of marrying his childhood sweetheart, despite his lack of formal education or high social standing.

Dr. Fitzpiers is a new, intellectually curious doctor hailing from an old, distinguished family. He approaches medicine casually, viewing it as just one of his many hobbies alongside alchemy, poetry, and metaphysics. He considers himself socially superior to the locals of Little Hintock and approaches romance with a sense of entitlement and fleeting passion.

George is a successful local timber merchant who feels insecure about his lack of formal education. He spends heavily on his daughter's schooling, hoping to secure her a higher social standing to vicariously enjoy respect from the upper classes. He is protective but treats his daughter's prospects somewhat like a financial investment.

Mrs. Charmond is a wealthy aristocrat and former actress who lives at Hintock House. She holds immense power in the village as the landowner of several life-leased properties. She is restless, easily fatigued by rural life, and prone to dramatic shifts in mood and affection.

Marty is a resilient, hardworking country girl who performs grueling physical labor to support herself and her ailing father. She possesses a deep, unspoken affection for her coworker, remaining quietly steadfast in the background while others pursue their ambitions. She is practical, unassuming, and deeply connected to the woodland environment.

John is an elderly, ailing man living in Little Hintock. He fixates obsessively on a tree outside his window, believing it will fall and kill him. His life holds immense legal significance for the village, as several property leases depend entirely on his survival.

Suke is a lively, working-class village woman in Little Hintock. She actively engages in local traditions and draws the attention of several men in the community, embracing a more uninhibited lifestyle than her educated peers.

Grammer is an elderly domestic worker who assists the Melbury family. She is superstitious and practical, though her lack of funds leads her to make a deeply regrettable financial arrangement regarding her own body.

Timothy is a local working man who is engaged to Suke Damson. He is observant and protective of his relationship, harboring strong resentments toward anyone who interferes with his domestic plans.

Robert is an older, loyal assistant who works alongside Giles Winterborne. He helps manage cider production and attempts to assist with social events, though his rustic habits sometimes clash with elevated expectations.

Mr. Percombe is a well-dressed master-barber from outside the village. He acts as an agent for wealthy clients, using financial pressure to acquire what his employers desire from the poorer rural residents.

Fred is a local lawyer who advises the residents of Little Hintock. He stays informed of new legislation and attempts to guide his clients through complex legal and personal challenges.