Sara Crewe
The protagonist of the story, Sara is a wise, imaginative young girl. In spite of her wealthy background, she reacts with equanimity to the misfortunes and abuses that befall her after her father's death. Sara's emotional survival depends on her lively inner life, especially her fantasy of being a princess who helps those in need. She shares her stories and fantasies with friends, helping them to change their outlook on reality and to behave more generously. When she recovers her wealth and position of power, Sara uses her resources to help others.
Captain Crewe
Sara's wealthy, indulgent father. He is stationed in India as part of the British military, but wants his daughter to get an education in England. He dotes on Sara, buying her extravagant presents and writing her letters in her absence, but dies from a mixture of disease and mental distress when one of his business ventures appears to fail miserably.
Miss Minchin
Miss Minchin is the novel's primary antagonist. A needlessly cruel headmistress at Sara's school, Miss Minchin dislikes Sara but originally treats her well because of her student's wealth. Once Sara's fortunes change, however, Miss Minchin tries her hardest to harm and humiliate her. Once Sara is again a wealthy and high-status person, Miss Minchin first tries to benefit from her newfound proximity to wealth, and then quietly resents her former student.
Becky
Becky is a scullery maid working at Miss Minchin's school while Sara is a student. Sara and Becky become friends in spite of their obvious difference in social rank. Once Sara is demoted to a life of servitude herself, Becky becomes her close companion. She is generous, supportive, and adoring, and when Sara regains her fortune, Becky becomes a personal servant of Sara's.
Amelia Minchin
Amelia is Miss Minchin's kinder but weaker sister. Amelia also works at Miss Minchin's academy, and often tries to soften her sister's abusive attitudes, but lacks the bravery necessary to do so. Over the course of the book, after witnessing her sister's treatment of Sara Crewe, Amelia is emboldened to denounce her cruelty.
Ram Dass
Ram Dass is Mr. Carrisford's servant. He accompanies Carrisford from India to England, and is often described in racialized terms. Ram Dass, who sees Sara through their adjoining attic windows, takes an interest in Sara and comes up with a plan to surprise her by leaving presents in her attic bedroom.
Mr. Carrisford
Carrisford is Captain Crewe's close friend and business partner. Though a very wealthy diamond mine operator, he feels immense guilt for the death of his friend Crewe and as such seeks out his lost daughter, Sara, to alleviate this guilt. Carrisford is a highly sensitive but very kind man with a love for children, and, as such, is eager to follow Ram Dass's plan to surprise Sara even before he discovers her identity.
Ermengarde
Ermengarde is Sara'a first friend at Miss Minchin's school. She is a somewhat dim-witted but extremely kind child. She is often laughed at because of her inability to learn French, and befriends Sara after Sara shows kindness to her in spite of her academic failures. Though Ermengarde lacks self-esteem, she is immensely loyal, and does her best to help Sara when she is in need.
Lottie
Lottie is the youngest student at Miss Minchin's academy, and is extremely spoiled. As a result she is given to tantrums, which makes her unpopular with both students and teachers. Sara takes Lottie under her wing, promising to act as the child's adoptive mother, especially since both girls are motherless. Lottie is extremely needy, but devoted to Sara above all else, providing emotional warmth even while she creates inconvenience.
Lavinia Herbert
Lavinia is the oldest student at Miss Minchin's, and has a judgmental, domineering personality. She dislikes Sara, since she resents Sara's wealth and popularity. Though she usually expresses her dislike through petty gossip and snide comments, she does manage to bring harm to Sara, Becky, and Ermengarde by reporting on their secret meetings to Miss Minchin.
Mr. Carmichael
Mr. Carmichael is Mr. Carrisford's solicitor and the father of the lively, large family who live near Miss Minchin's school. He is levelheaded and hardworking, and performs the hard work of finding and protecting Sara while Mr. Carrisford is in a state of physical weakness and emotional shock.
