Berry Hamilton
Berry is a butler whose long years of hard work and loyalty are called into question under a cloud of stealing money from Francis Oakley. For this crime, he is sentenced to ten years of hard labor.
Fannie Hamilton
The housekeeper at the Maurice Oakley estate and wife of Berry. Following her husband’s conviction, she takes her family to New York and after one year becomes very depressed. She becomes depressed due to the fact that her children start treating her very bad. She re-marries a man named Mr. Gibson who abuses her. After Mr. Gibson passes she moves back to the Oakleys household with Berry
Joe Hamilton
Berry and Fannie’s son who is responsible for Fannie’s decision to move to New York. There, Joe falls victim to the faster and wilder lifestyle, eventually becoming an alcoholic who murders his girlfriend and is sent to jail.
Kitty Hamilton
Kitty is pride made pretty. After the move to New York with her mother, she has drastic changes in her attitude toward her mother. She separates herself from her family and begins a new life as a performer for “Martin’s Blackbirds.” She ends up marrying and is said to be a disappointment to her father when he comes out of jail.
Col. Maurice Oakley
Col. Maurice Oakley is a former slaveowner and current employer of Berry and Fannie Hamilton. Maurice’s willingness to believe the lies of his half-brother Francis that Berry stole money not only ends with his butler in jail, it serves to transform the previous genteel gentlemen first into a more hardened soul and then, when the truth comes out, paranoid and secretive until he finally goes completely mad.
Francis Oakley
A pampered, spoiled aesthete who had a grueling secret about how he stole the money but let the blame fall to Berry Hamilton. He asks Maurice to tell everyone the truth but he refuses until Skaggs steals the letter from Maurice Oakley's chest
Mr. Skaggs
A New York reporter who investigates Joe’s claims that his father was set up and false imprisoned. He talks to a few people at a bar in NYC and then goes to the Oakleys household. Once there he steals the letter Francis sent to Maurice about how Berry didn't take anything. His expose results in Berry being pardoned and sends Maurice over the edge into madness.
Mr. Gibson
A very abusive man towards his wife Fannie Hamilton. He dies later in the novel by getting killed in something of a street fight.
