Amory is a handsome, intelligent young man from a privileged background who is prone to arrogance. Educated through travel and tutors before attending St. Regis' and Princeton, he frequently views the world through a romantic but self-centered lens. He constantly adjusts his behavior to ascend social hierarchies, searching for meaning in academics, high society, and romance.

Amory's sophisticated, wealthy mother grew up in Lake Geneva and attended a Roman convent. She imparts a taste for high culture to her son during his early formative years. Prone to hypochondria and alcohol dependency, she shapes Amory's early worldview more directly than traditional schooling does.

A 44-year-old Yale-educated Catholic priest who serves as a father figure and intellectual guide for Amory. Having once been romantically involved with Beatrice, he forms an immediate bond with her son. He offers sophisticated, grounded advice to help the young man process the spiritual challenges of early adulthood.

Alec's sister is a wealthy debutante who embodies the changing social expectations for young women of her era. She is enthusiastic and unafraid to bend rules, having been expelled from school previously. She values her high social status and comfortable lifestyle, bringing a practical edge to her romantic feelings.

A 16-year-old debutante from Minneapolis who represents Amory's first significant romance. She uses her engaging personality to command attention from male admirers. Her relationship with Amory is heavily based on maintaining social appearances and public image.

An 18-year-old woman living with her grandfather in Maryland to escape a controlling uncle. Born and raised in France, she is fiercely independent and frustrated by the limitations placed on women. She shares a profound love of poetry and a skeptical philosophy with Amory.

Amory's father is an unassuming man who spends most of his time tending to his wife's needs. He manages the family finances and investments, operating quietly in the background of his son's dynamic life.

A student who writes poetry for the Princetonian. He becomes one of Amory's closest friends and intellectual peers, generally rejecting the snobbery of Princeton society to focus on literature and writing.

Rosalind's brother and one of Amory's Princeton friends. He shares a New York apartment with Amory and Tom after the war. He enjoys the carefree lifestyle of their class but feels the pull of familial duty and reputation.

Burne's brother and one of Amory's good friends at Princeton. Unlike his peers, he drifts through college life without worrying about climbing the university's strict social ladder.

Kerry's brother undergoes a drastic ideological shift during his time at Princeton. Initially well-respected, he openly rebels against the university's exclusive social clubs and embraces pacifism.

Amory's third cousin and a widow living in Philadelphia. Amory builds up an idealized vision of her as poor and miserable, only to find her quite comfortable and capable of providing him with honest feedback about his vanity.

The matriarch of the Connage family is acutely aware of their dwindling fortune. She actively guides her daughter Rosalind toward wealthy suitors to ensure the family's financial security.

Rosalind and Alec's sister. She observes the complex social dynamics in her home during Rosalind's coming-out period, occasionally commenting on her siblings' choices.

A wealthy young man favored by Mrs. Connage as a suitable match for Rosalind. He represents the financial security and social stability highly valued by the upper class.

A girl Amory pursues during his early teenage years in Minneapolis. She invites him to an event that culminates in an awkward encounter at the Minnehaha Club.

A confident, well-dressed older man who offers Amory a ride. He engages the younger man in a deep philosophical discussion about wealth, progress, and socialism on the road to Princeton.

A woman who accompanies Alec to a hotel in Atlantic City. Her presence precipitates a tense situation involving hotel detectives and the preservation of reputations.