Edwin Reardon
He is one of the two protagonists of the tale. Reardon is portrayed as a writer whose brilliancy is marred by his inflexibility as a traditionalist, and the inability to adapt his writings with his readers’ needs and requests. He is also depicted as a proud man who shrinks from failure and any kind of appeals for help from other people. These traits of character push him towards an existential conflict following his literary crisis, and come in the way of his inner development. Thus, he prefers a gradual decline to a painful battle, and is led slowly down the abyss of failure and destitution.
Jasper Milvain
Milvain is Reardon’s friend and the other protagonist of the novel. He is a young and brilliant journalist. Unlike his friend, his outstanding skills do not come from any particular love of literature, but rather from a farsightedness and cleverness in editorial matters. His talents meet his high ambition and desire for social mobility and economical prosperity. Milvain can even be said to be a cynical character especially when it is a matter of feelings and relationships. Although he came to nurture feelings for Marian Yule, he chose to part with her because her economical status is rather an impediment to his literary career. At the end of the tale, he is happily married to Reardon’s widow who came to inherit a little fortune from a deceased uncle.
Amy Reardon
Amy is Edwin’s wife. She is portrayed as a beautiful woman, yet one who is hard to figure out when it comes to love and relationships. She has married Edwin out of love, but that love was not all of it directed towards the man himself. Amy rather loved his greatness and literary merits, along with the distinction that came with being the wife of a successful writer. Thus, when Edwin’s talent declined, her love dwindled as well, for the very core of what she loved has disappeared leaving a blank behind it. Like her husband, Amy is proud; she shrinks from public exposure and offers of help. For this reason, she chooses to leave him altogether than to be the wife of a mere clerk. At the end of the tale, she marries Jasper Milvain.
Marian Yule
Marian is Amy’s cousin. Although her beauty is no match to that of Mrs. Reardon, she is depicted as a clever young woman who assists her father with his writings, and even composes literary texts herself. She falls in love with Jasper Milvain, and struggles against her father’s antipathy towards this young man. She even defies his will and determines to marry her lover against all odds. Her determination, however, serves her very little, for Jasper would only marry where money is abundant.
Harold Biffen
Biffen is Reardon’s friend. The two are very alike when it comes to their traditional ways in literary labors. What differentiates them, however, is Biffen’s strong will and determination. He leads a life of privation and penury, but goes on writing his book for years in spite of the prophetic comments condemning it to failure. After its publication, Biffen’s work attracts very little attention. Seeing thus his last hope collapse, he chooses to commit suicide than request more money from his brother.
Alfred Yule
He is Marian’s father, and a writer who still struggles for fame and recognition. He is depicted as a bitter man who cannot get over the fact that his writings are not of a value great enough to immortalize him. His jealousies are thus stirred against authors who did reach their peak. He is prejudiced against Jasper Milvain just because the latter has chosen to start a career with an old foe of his. Yule the father is no better than Yule the writer. He wants to risk his daughter’s inheritance just to satisfy his crave for fame and power by starting a journal that would doubtless fail before long. As a husband, he is even worse, for he purges all his anger in a bitter criticism and disdain directed against the origins and inferior education of his wife.
Dora Milvain
Dora is Jasper’s younger sister. She is portrayed as a new woman who likes independence and self-reliance. Following the death of their mother, she moves to London where she follows her brother’s advice of writing children literature. At this, she succeeds and manages, in the course of time, to make a living for herself. Dora’s morality is superior to that of her brother’s, for she scolds him bitterly when she learns about his rupture with Marian, who is also her friend. Dora marries one of her brother’s friends, namely Mr. Whelpdale.
Maud Milvain
She is Jasper’s other sister. She too moves to London and starts writing stories, but her ambitions are different from those of her sister. While Dora is a new woman, Maud is a conventional one. She finds no glory whatsoever in a literary field, and drifts instead towards the world of refinement and aristocracy. She marries Mr. Dolomore.
Mr. Whelpdale
He is Jasper’s friend and Dora’s intended. He is depicted as a compulsive lover, yet an honest and innocent one. He exchanges his career of writing with one of editing. His business finds gradual success and his life is a hopeful and promising one.
