Rowena (Rena) Walden
For much of its gestation, the working title of the novel was “Rena Walden.” She is beautiful and sufficiently light-skinned to pass as white, but is far more emotionally distraught over the betrayal of her race and the deception of the man she loves: George Tryon. At the same time, the freedom that comes with being accepted into white society proves intoxicating. Once her secret becomes common knowledge and Tryon rejects her, she spirals downward and eventually succumbs to illness just as Tryon is attempting to remedy his mistake and seek reunion.
John Walden
Light-skinned octoroon and brother of Rowena Walden who makes his way to South Carolina and changes his name to John Warrick. There he crafts a secret life successfully passing himself among white society. He even marries the daughter of a plantation owner and, following her death, inherits the property. Freed from the emotional bonds of his past, he much more easily disconnects himself from his past life than his sister is able.
George Tryon
Aristocratic, wealthy, good-looking, athletic and white best friend John Walden. He falls deeply in love with Rowena Walden but ultimately reveals a rejection of expressed liberal tolerance when he gives in to the pressure he feels coming in from society to abandon her once he discovers she is black. George turns to Blanche Leary but cannot fully get over Rena. Makes a mad last minute dash to live out those liberal principles only to discover Rowena is dead.
Molly Walden
The mother of John and Rena, it is to illness which causes Rena’s life to unravel. Knowing it means risking discovery, daughter makes her way to mother’s sickbed in the black part of town. The light skin that allows her children to pass as white is the result of a relationship she had as mistress to a wealthy white man.
Jefferson Wain
After her secret is revealed, Rena seeks employment as a teacher in a school for rural black children where Jefferson Wain is the superintendent. His aggressive sexual advances contributes to Rena spiral as the pressure becomes too much for her fragile constitution to bear.
Frank Fowler
A simple, but honest and loyal black worker, Frank once saved Rena’s life when she was a girl. He has loved her ever since and despite the heartache of watching her pursue a white man, is still there to carry her back to her mother’s home upon discovering Rena nearing closer to death. As Tryon is trying to make his way to her to beg forgiveness, Rena’s dying recognition is of the worth of Frank Fowler which she betrayed by not fully appreciating when she had the chance.
