Charles Strickland
Strickland is the protagonist of the novel. Initially, the narrator describes him as an unremarkable man of even temperament. However, after he leaves his family, the narrator realizes that he is actually a passionate artist with no concern for the feelings of others. The narrator is fascinated by Strickland's pursuit of greatness but finds the cruelty he shows to his wife, Amy, and Dirk Strove to be morally repugnant. He is based on French artist Paul Gaugin.
Amy Strickland
Amy is Strickland's wife. She is described as a socialite who is fond of the company of artists. Her life is upended by the departure of Strickland, but she manages to keep her family together by taking on work as a typist. The narrator is sympathetic to her struggles, but is sometimes suspicious of whether or not she is being genuine or performing an emotion to garner sympathy.
The Narrator
The narrator of the novel is an unnamed writer. The reader learns little about his personal life but he often talks about becoming frustrated with the staleness of the social life in various places. He struggles with his relationship with Strickland because he finds him fascinating as an artist and amusing as a person, but is acutely aware of his cruelty and callousness. While he observes and takes part in the events of the novel, he is never able to change the outcome of events, even the tragic ones.
Dirk Stroeve
Dirk is a friend of the narrator. He is described as being exceptionally kind and possessing a strong critical eye. At the same time, the narrator notes that he is not a very good painter and is constantly churning out mediocre scenes of rural Italian villages. He is extremely kind to his wife Blanche and Strickland, despite the fact that both of them treat him cruelly.
Blanche Strove
Blanche is Dirk's wife. The narrator notes that she treats Dirk warmly, but does not seem to love him. She dislikes Strickland and thinks Dirk should stand up to him when Strickland mocks him. This issue comes to a head when she leaves Dirk for Strickland. After this, she refuses to speak or acknowledge Dirk. She later commits suicide when Strickland leaves her. Strickland reveals to the narrator, after Blanche's death, that Dirk took her in after she became pregnant out of wedlock.
Dr. Coutras
Coutras is a physician who diagnoses Strickland with leprosy during his time in Tahiti. He provides the narrator with an account of Strickland's final days and his slow, agonizing death. In his retelling of these events, he views Strickland with confusion and disgust. He is baffled by Strickland's lack of concern about his condition.
Ata
Ata is a young, native Tahitian woman who becomes Strickland's second wife. She loves Strickland and gives him a great deal of space to paint during the day. The narrator, despite having never met him, seems to believe that Ata is the only woman to actually make Strickland happy. They have two children together. Later, when he is dying, she continues to care for him, despite the severity of his illness and the subsequent death of one of their children.
Captain Nichols
Captain Nichols is a sailor who tells the narrator about Strickland's time in Marseilles. The narrator describes him as an adventurer and a bit of unreliable storyteller with a fondness for exaggeration.
Colonel MacAndrew
Colonel MacAndrew is Amy's brother-in-law. He detests Strickland for leaving Amy. The narrator finds MacAndrew dull and uninteresting.
Tiare Johnson
Tiare Johnson is the proprietor of a hotel where the narrator lives. She recounts Strickland's time in Tahiti to the narrator. He says she is a large, amiable woman with a great deal of sympathy and kindness for other people. He remembers her fondly in the following description: “She loved three things—a joke, a glass of wine, and a handsome man. To have known her is a privilege.”
