Giovanni
Giovanni is the central character in the play. He falls in love with his sister and, when his feelings are reciprocated, they begin an incestuous relationship that leads to Annabella's pregnancy. Throughout the events, Giovanni insists that his affair with his sister is the result of a genuine romantic love. Ultimately, it is by his hand that Annabella dies in an attempt to protect her honor from being stained by a marriage to Soranzo.
Annabella
Annabella is the titular "whore" of the play, based on her incestuous relationship with her brother. Things become complicated for Annabella when her love affair with her brother results in a pregnancy. In an attempt to cover up this messy situation, she agrees to a marriage with Soranzo. Annabella is eventually murdered by her brother when he stabs her through the heart during a passionate kiss.
Florio
Father to Giovanni and Annabella, he has made a vow that he will not force his daughter to marry a man she does not love. The story turns on the shocking revelation that the man she loves is none other than Giovanni, her own brother. At the end of the play, this news horrifies Florio so immensely that he dies immediately.
Soranzo
A long-time rival for Annabella’s hand, he has already seduced a married woman named Hippolyta on the promise of marriage when her husband dies. Upon the discovery of Annabella’s incest and its consequences, he vows revenge against Giovanni.
Hippolyta
She is the woman whom Soranzo has previously seduced and also makes a vow of revenge. Her plans to get even with Soranzo require conspiring with his servant, Vasquez, who winds up betraying her by remaining faithful to his employer.
Richardetto
Husband of Hippolyta, he is busy first plotting to discover the identity of his wife’s lover and then engaging with Grimaldi to carry out plans to murder Soranzo.
Grimaldi
He is a respected Roman in love with Annabella who conspires in the plot to murder Soranzo with Richardetto because he views him as a rival for Annabella. He winds up killing another rival, Bergetto, by accident, but gets away with it because of his high station.
Puttana
Putana is Annabella's guardian and close confidant. Her name literally translates to "whore" in Italian. When she discovers the incestuous relationship between Annabella and Giovanni, she is skeptical and concerned but withholds her judgment and keeps their relationship a secret. Putana is one of the most devastating casualties in the play; her eyes are gouged out and she is eventually burned to death as punishment for her endorsement of Annabella's sexuality.
Vasquez
Vasquez is the servant and confidant of Soranzo. Before the events of the play, Vasquez has sworn to Soranzo's father that he will remain faithful and loyal to Soranzo. Vasquez is one of the most logical characters in the play. His reasonable approach allows him to see through Hippolyta's deception and exact his own revenge on her when he kills her with poison.
The Cardinal
The Cardinal, acting on behalf of the Pope, grants clemency to Grimaldi to absolve him of legal charges for killing Bergetto on the grounds that the local judiciary is lacking the proper authority to charge such a person of such noble birth. The Cardinal also serves the various punishments for the characters who are still alive at the end of the play.
