Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson is the servant of a wealthy planter, who was bought by one of his (planter’s sons). He is light-hearted, kind and brave, he did his job well, was disciplined but at the same time, he was careless, and as all slaves of that time, he was illiterate and his language was poor: “ But ef she comes out yere looking mighty pleased, an' larffin all ober her face, an' steppin' so frisky, den I knows de Secesh is gittin' de bes' ob de Yankees”. He also believed in all his masters or other servants told him, because he didn’t have the opportunity to check the information, he even thought that Yankees got horns. He took a part in the civil war in 1861-1865, was wounded and soon, died.
Robert Johnson
He was a slave who had been separated from his mother in his early childhood and reared by his mistress as a favorite slave: “She had fondled him as a pet animal, and even taught him to read”. Robert enjoyed the distinction of being a good reader and the only thing he longed was freedom (although he didn’t know what is it exactly). And one day he got both freedom and family. By a chance, he met Iola, who appeared to be his niece (he was brother of Marie).
Miss Iola
Iola was a daughter of the rich planter and a black woman who used to be his slave until he married her. She used to think that there is nothing bad in slavery and it shouldn’t be canceled because she believes that her father treats them kindly and their life is not so bad. Her childhood was careless but after her father death the marriage of her parents was annulled and she had to separate with her mother. And she completely changes her views about a slavery and now it is one of the worst things in the whole world for her. She worked as a nurse during the war and it was said that “Faithful is not the word to express her tireless energy and devotion to her work," and "She must have been a born nurse to put such enthusiasm into her work." She considers herself as a black and devotes her life for struggling for the truth and justice for colored nations.
Doctor Gresham
Doctor Greshman was a white physician. His father was a northern abolitionist and his son also supports black, but he also regards that these people shouldn’t have the same rights as white people have. He doesn’t understand why Iola is so proud of being black and why she doesn’t want to pass as white. It was the reason why he couldn’t allow to marry her. He pitied black and helped them, but he also considered them second-class people. He is the example of a person whose deeds and thinks do not coincide.
Doctor Latimer
He is a mulatto who appears to be white, a talented and intelligent doctor who lives his beliefs and never betray them. As well as Iola, he acknowledged that he is black and never passes as white, he even relinquishes his white grandmother heritage. He believes that white and colored people are equal and they must have equal rights. He persuades Iola to write a book for black and encourages her “to be the voice of her race”. He considers that blacks should have their own literature because their world outlook is different from that white people have. He inspires Iola to do what she wants to, to help other people, to be their symbol of a struggle. Doctor Latimer is the embodiment of purity and devotion in the novel.
