The Narrator is an unnamed, young philosophical writer living in Maybury, England. He is highly curious and knowledgeable about science, which initially gives him a front-row seat to the Martian arrival. He frequently finds himself torn between his intense desire to observe the extraterrestrials and his natural instinct to flee from them.

An unnamed medical student living in London who is younger and unmarried. He is braver, more decisive, and physically capable as a trained boxer. His intuitive sense of morality and quick action allow him to protect others during the chaotic mass flight from the city.

A clergyman from the Weybridge area who is completely unmoored by the alien invasion. Unable to reconcile the calamity with his religious beliefs, he is paralyzed by terror and views the invaders as divine punishment. His despair quickly turns into reckless, selfish behavior that puts others in danger.

A young British soldier whose company is obliterated early in the invasion. Though initially traumatized, he is shrewd and cynical, quickly recognizing the failure of human military power. He formulates ambitious but highly flawed plans for humanity's underground survival, viewing himself as a leader in a new world order.

Technologically advanced extraterrestrials from Mars who invade Earth in cylinders. They are physically grotesque, possessing tentacles, massive brains, and no digestive system. They pilot towering, destructive fighting-machines and use devastating weapons like the Heat-Ray and Black Smoke to subjugate humanity.

A passive, traditional Victorian woman who relies heavily on her husband. When Maybury is attacked, she nervously follows his lead as they flee to her cousin's home in Leatherhead, remaining silent but visibly frightened.

A brave and capable woman who stands in sharp contrast to the restrictive gender roles of Victorian England. She actively defends herself with a revolver and serves as an equal partner in surviving the chaotic escape to the coast.

A highly anxious, dependent woman who struggles to cope with the collapse of her orderly life. She is terrified of leaving England and fixates irrationally on waiting for her absent husband, heavily relying on others for direction.

A doctor who sends his wife and sister away from London for their safety, promising to catch up with them later. His failure to arrive at the designated meeting point causes severe distress for his wife.

A local astronomer who is the first to locate the fallen cylinder on Horsell Common. Initially believing the object to be a harmless meteor, he quickly shifts to trying to rescue the beings inside before realizing their hostile nature.

A London journalist who helps investigate the fallen cylinder. He is instrumental in telegraphing the initial news of the objects from Mars to the rest of the country.

The Astronomer Royal who joins the investigation at the landing site. He takes an active role in trying to study the object and manage the growing crowds of spectators.

A clueless local man in Maybury who rents a horse and cart to the narrator. He remains completely unaware of the severity of the threat unfolding nearby, focusing entirely on his business.

The local authority in the area around Horsell Common. The narrator is dispatched to find him to erect a barrier to keep spectators away from the alien pit.

A nobleman whom the narrator's brother hears is dying of thirst during the mass exodus. He serves as an example of how wealth and status offer no protection against the alien threat.