The Grinch
The Grinch is described as being a moody, bitter creature that lives in the fictional Mt. Crumpit, just outside of Who-ville. He hates Christmas more than anything because he hates the happiness that people experience, especially as he is a very unhappy person. He goes out of his way to ruin Christmas for the Whos by pretending to be Santa so he can steal all the presents.
Cindy-Lou Who
Cindy-Lou Who is a little girl who lives in Who-ville. While the Grinch is in her house dressed as Santa Claus, she wakes up and asks him what he is doing. He lies to her, and retrieves her a cup of water before sending her off to bed. Cindy-Lou Who is an example of the innocence and kindness that the Whos exhibit during the holiday season.
Max
Max is the Grinch's dog. As part of his scheme, the Grinch ties antlers to Max's head to make him look more like a reindeer. The pictures in the book suggest that Max is not happy to be part of the Grinch's evil plan.
The Whos
The Whos are the people who live in Who-ville. They adore Christmas, and spend the entire holiday season preparing for it. On Christmas morning, they have noisy celebrations and a large feast. They also sing, which bothers the Grinch the most. At the end of the story, the Whos are still singing despite the fact that Grinch robbed them of all their presents. It is their singing that inspires the Grinch to rethink the meaning of Christmas.
