Ged
Ged is the protagonist of the story, a young man who learns that he has magic powers. Ged was born in a little village where he was raised by his father and by his aunt. From an early age, Ged realized that he had magic powers and that he could do things other people could only dream of. Ged is first taught about magic by his aunt and then he is taken by a powerful wizard named Ogion. When Ged feels as if Ogion has nothing of value to teach him anymore, he goes searching for a school of magic for other people like him. While at the school, Ged performs a piece of magic that invokes a shadow that wants to kill him. From that point on, Ged tries to evade the ghost until one day he realizes that he must kill the shadow if he wants to be able to live in peace. Ged realizes that the ghost looks like him and that he in fact hunting for a piece of himself. As a character, Ged develops from being an arrogant man to becoming a calm and wise wizard. In a way, the novel presents Ged’s development and how he transforms from being a little boy to being a grown man.
Vetch
Vetch is another student at the same school for wizards where Ged learned. The two become close friends and Vetch helps Ged with his studying. When the boys finish their education, Vetch is sent to a distant village while Ged remains on the island where he studied. The two met again when Ged is hunting the shadow and Vetch helps Ged find the shadow. After they find the shadow, the two return to the village where Vetch was staying.
Ogion
Ogion is Ged’s first master after he discovered his magical powers. Ogion comes to the village where Ged was staying after he heard about the boy who was so affected by the magic he was doing that he ended up in a comatose state. Ogion brings Ged out of that state and help him control his powers. Ogion then takes Ged as his apprentice but Ged is unsatisfied with the things Ogion teaches him.
The shadow
The shadow is an important character in the book and it is also the antagonist. The shadow appears quite early in the novel when Ged tries to open a portal between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Then, the shadow escapes and begins to haunt Ged. At the middle of the novel, things change and Ged becomes the one who tries to catch and kill the shadow. At the end of the novel, it is revealed that the shadow was just a part of Ged’s life.
Yarrow
Yarrow is Vetch’s sister whom Ged meets on the island where Vetch was working as a wizard. It is implied that Ged felt some kind of affection for Yarrow and that she was attracted to him as well but that their relationship would have probably never worked.
Murre
Murre is Vetch’s brother, a boy the same age as Ged and who possesses magical powers. Ged watches Murre from afar and he is jealous that Murre is carefree and does not seem to have any problems whatsoever. In comparison with him, Ged has to deal with many problems and his life is in constant danger.
Serret
Ged meets with Serret when he first leaves his village with Ogion. Then, Serret is the daughter of a powerful lord and a witch herself. Ged tries to impress her with his magic but is unsuccessful. Ged meets with Serret later in life when she tries to enslave Ged. She is however unsuccessful and she is killed by the Servants summoned by her husband.
Benderesk
Benderesk is an old magician with whom Serret married. He is an evil character who wants to enslave Ged.
Yevaud
Yevaud is a dragon Ged fights against. Ged kills Yevaud’s children but lets the old dragon live. Because Ged found the dragon’s real name, Ged used it to make the dragon stay on the island forever.
Jasper
Jasper is another boy who studies at the same school as Ged. In comparison with Ged, who came from a poor family, Jasper comes from a noble family and thus he looks down on those who do not have the same wealth as he does. Between Ged and Japer there seems to always be some sort of competition and the reason why Ged sometimes does certain things is because he wants to impress Jasper.
