Brigadier General Ezra Mannon
Ezra Mannon is the son of Abe, brother of David, husband of Christine, and father of Lavinia and Orin. He is a handsome and stately man with the classic Mannon mask-like expression. He has a problematic relationship with his son, is very close to his daughter, and wishes to have a deeper relationship with his wife. Ezra is beloved by the townsfolk although the Mannons are considered a very curious family. He was estranged from his brother because David sired a child by a French nurse, and refused to help the woman when she needed money. Thus, his discovery of Adam Brant's true identity as the son of Marie Brantome causes him to despise the man even more than he did just knowing Christine loves him. Christine and Adam conspire to kill Ezra by replacing his heart medication with poison.
Christine Mannon
Christine is Ezra's wife and mother to Lavinia and Orin. She is stunningly beautiful and sensuous woman who falls into a romantic relationship with Adam Brant. Christine possesses an unhealthy affection for her son but hates her daughter, who reminds her of her grotesque wedding night with Ezra. Christine plots, schemes, lies, and manipulates to get rid of Ezra, preserve her relationship with Brant, and protect her secrets. She commits suicide after Brant's murder.
Lavinia Mannon
Lavinia, the daughter of Ezra and Christine and sister to Orin, is initially a thin, dour young woman. She loves her father excessively and despises her mother, especially when she discovers her mother's relationship with Brant and when Christine tries to manipulate Orin. After her parents' deaths she experiences a sexual awakening on a trip to the South Sea Islands, but has trouble retaining that joie de vivre when she returns to the Mannon home and Orin's mental illness and despair over Christine's death make him want to expose the family secrets and ruin Lavinia's chances for love with Peter. After Orin commits suicide, Lavinia realizes she has to live alone in the Mannon house for the rest of her days and put the curse to rest.
Orin Mannon
The son of Ezra and Christine and brother of Lavinia, Orin is a newly-returned soldier of slight build and sternness of demeanor. He has an unhealthy fixation on his mother and hates his father; he vacillates between loving his sister and accusing her of terrible things. The mental perturbations he suffered in the war haunt him throughout the play and intensify his reaction to his mother's death and Lavinia's sexual behavior. Although he knows he should marry the pure Hazel, he is so racked with guilt over his assumption that he was to blame for his mother's suicide that he sexually propositions his sister so she will never leave him. When she refuses and he realizes what he has done, he shoots himself.
Captain Adam Brant
A clipper ship captain and a handsome, roguish man. He is the son of David Mannon and the French nurse Marie Brantome, Adam nurses a hatred of the Mannon family for the way they treated his mother. He falls in love with Christine, though, which is a way to revenge himself on Ezra. After she convinces him that they must rid of Ezra, he procures the poison that kills the man. He is later murdered by Orin with Lavinia's aid.
Peter Niles
A friend of Orin's and brother of Hazel, Peter works in the US Artillery corps. He is kind and family-oriented; he loves Lavinia and wishes to marry her, but her shocking behavior at the end of the play and her insistence that she is bad for him eventually convince him otherwise.
Hazel Niles
Peter's kind and beautiful sister. She is in love with Orin and he, in turn, is entranced by her purity, but Orin rejects her because he is too tortured by the war and the events within the Mannon household.
Seth Beckwith
A trusted handyman of the family. Seth is loyal to the Mannons, particularly Lavinia, and helps her when she requests it. He seems to be a leader of the townsfolk and can often be found singing "Shenandoah."
Marie Brantome
A beautiful and vivacious French Canuck nurse who took care of Abe Mannon and fell in love with his son David. She gave birth to Adam Brant and took care of him on her own after David spiraled into drunkenness and violence. She struggled at the end of her life and asked Ezra for help but he refused; she died in her son's arms.
Abe Mannon
The patriarch of the Mannon family. He is father to David and Ezra, grandfather to Lavinia and Orin. He is a stern Puritan figure, unyielding in his ideas of rightness and rectitude. He expels David from the family after his affair with Marie is discovered.
David Mannon
Ezra's brother and Abe's son, David falls in love with Marie and sires Adam Brant. His exile from the family ruins his life and he turns to drink. He beats his wife and quarrels with his son.
The Chantyman
A drunken singer whom Adam Brant meets right before his death. He complains about his money being stolen, sings snippets of songs, and asks Brant to take him on his next trip. Brant considers the man's singing of a dirge a bad omen, which it certainly is.
Amos Ames
A friend of Seth's and a local carpenter. Amos is portly and gossipy and is married to Louisa.
Louisa Ames
Amos's wife and a woman prone to malicious gossip.
Minnie
Louisa's cousin, a rather silly and gossipy woman.
Josiah Borden
The manager of the Mannon shipping company.
Emma Borden
Wife of Josiah.
Doctor Joseph Blake
The kindly but opinionated elderly physician who attends to Ezra's body. He admires the General greatly and does not tolerate criticism of him.
Everett Hills
The Congregational minister. He is prosperous, self-important, unctuous, and timid.
Mrs. Hills
The minister's wife.
Joe Silva
A Portuguese fishing captain with a loud voice, portly body, and dark hair. A friend of Seth's.
Ira Mackel
An elderly farmer and friend of Seth's.
Abner Small
A hardware clerk with a raspy voice, thin frame, and bright eyes. He takes a bet to stay in the empty Mannon house but is too afraid of ghosts to last long.
