Margery Kempe
Margery is the main character of the book and she is the one who has her memoires written down. The book presents her life from her youth to her old age and it records her spiritual experiences. The reason why Kempe wanted to have her book written down is to serve as some kind of learning manual for those who also want to get closer to God. In her youth however she was not as pious as in her adulthood and she mentions how she tries to make up for her mistakes from her past. Margery is married to a man named John but she wishes she were still a virgin so she could serve God better. Kempe feels that because she is no longer a virgin she can’t receive the same blessings in Heaven as other virgins before her but she is assured that her good actions will grant her a good place in Heaven. Despite being extremely religious and learned, Margery is illiterate. Not being able to read was not considered something unusual for the times when Margery lived but it did meant that Margery had to face certain difficulties when she wanted to have her book written down. Margery is loved and hated equally for her faith by the people around her. Margery fells compelled to scream and cry during sermons and religious days because she feels as if her tears are a gift from God. While a large group of people feel the same, there are also non-believers who see Kempe as a fake who only cries because she wants to attract attention on her and who is not controlled by God but rather by the Devil. Truth be told, Margery doubts at times that her visions are really from God or the Devil but she is given proof that God is with her and then she becomes more confident in her revelations.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is also a person who appears often in the novel because Margery keeps having revelations about him and his suffering. Some of the revelations repeat after some time but they still have the same effect on Margery who can’t control herself from crying and screaming. In her revelations, Jesus Christ is kind and speaks with Kempe as one would speak with a dear friend. Jesus assures Kempe of his love for her time after time and promises her that she will have a special place in Heaven beside him. Jesus also reveals important information to Kempe through her revelations and tells her how he wants her to serve him and how he wants her to behave. He also tells her about the secrets the clergymen have and Kempe uses this information to prove that she is not a fraud.
Virgin Mary
Another recurrent character in Margery’s revelations is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary, just like Jesus, takes time to assure Margery of her love and assures Kempe that she is loved in Heaven. Margery often serves Mary in her dreams and in her revelations proving that the Virgin Mary is an important religious figure for Kempe.
John
John is the name given to the man married with Margery. It is hinted that he was a rich man before losing all his wealth and plunging into debt. John is unable to resist his wife and he is convinced by her to become more religious as well. John even agrees to take a vow of chastity and to stop having sexual relationships with his wife. After they take the vow, Margery and John live separately despite still being married. John and Margery had together fourteen children before giving up their married life but none of them are mentioned with their name. Towards the end of the first book, John falls and injures himself so Kempe has to return home to take care of him. John’s death is mentioned in the beginning of the second book by Margery.
Margery's son
From the fourteen children Margery and John had, only one appears in the novel. The child who appears is a boy and the reason why Margery mentions him is because he had a tainted past by sin. The son chose to not listen to his mother and lived a promiscuous life abroad until he got sick and was forced to return home. The son eventually confessed his sins to Kempe and Margery prayed for him so in the end the boy got better. He eventually got married to a German girl and moved to Germany where he had a daughter of his own. The son returns one more time to England to see his mother with his wife but he gets sick on the road and dies suddenly.
Kempe's daughter-in-law
When Margery’s son comes to England to visit his mother, he brings his wife with him. After the son dies, Margery is told that she must go to Germany with her daughter-in-law so she begins traveling again despite being over sixty years old. There are almost no details given about Margery’s daughter-in-law but it is mentioned that Margery and the young woman do not get along and Margery decides to return home because of this.
Robert Spryngolde
Robert is Kempe’s confessor that appears both in the first book and in the second one. In the first book, Margery asks Jesus to save her confessor when she is told that she can ask any favor she wants. Jesus however tells her that her confessor is already saved and this points towards the idea that he is a good honest man with a good reputation. While it is not explicitly said, it is hinted that Robert is the second scribe, the one who wrote the last version of the book. He is described as being stern but it is clear that he only wants the best for Kempe and is among the only people who stand by her when everyone hates her and wants to drive her away from the town.
Master Aleyn
Master Aleyn is another ecclesiastic figure from Lynn Kempe feels close to. Master Aleyn is also among the people who believe in Kempe and who supports her and her ideas. He also tries to defend Kempe from the others and takes her side when disputes escalate. Apart from being a spiritual man, master Aleyn is also learned, being educated at Cambridge. Kempe suffers when she is unable to see Master Aleyn and prays for him during the time when he is ill.
The Good Friar
The Good Friar appears in the first book towards the end of the second half. When Kempe hears that he is to come to her town, she is excited because she had heard about his talent as a preacher and is keen to hear his sermons. The Friar is warned forehand about Margery’s behavior and he manages to maintain his calm during his first sermon even if Margery starts crying uncontrollably. After the second sermon however, he begins to criticize Kempe publicly and he even makes an example out of her. His influence is so great that he convinces many of Kempe’s old supporters to forget about her and turn their back on her. It is unclear what happened with the Good Friar and whether he stopped criticizing Kempe or not but at one point in her narrative, Kempe stopped talking about him completely.
Richard of Caister
Richard is the man Kempe is sent to soon after she gives birth to her first son. He is a Vicar in Norfolk and Kempe heard already about him and knew about his good reputation even before being sent to talk with him. When Kempe visits the Vicar, they talk about Margery’s spiritual experiences and he confirms that her revelations are from God and not from the devil, confirmation which makes Margery have more confidence in herself.
Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich is an anchoress Kempe visits to try and find out if she is holy or not. And anchoress in Medieval times was a woman who willingly withdrawn from the outside world and became locked in a cell inside a church. The anchoress was not completely cut off from the outside world since she was visited by people who searched for spiritual guidance. When Kempe visits Julian, she tells her about the visions she had and the anchoress assures her that her visions are from God. Julian is described as being a kind woman who is easy to talk to and who is rational and grounded.
