Walter Hartright– A young teacher of drawing; something of an everyman character, and distinguished by a strong sense of justice.
Frederick Fairlie– A wealthy, hypochondriac land-owner: the uncle of Laura Fairlie, distinguished principally by his mock-politeness toward all other characters.
Laura Fairlie– Mr. Fairlie's gentle, guileless, pretty niece: an heiress and an orphan.
Marian Halcombe– Laura's elder half-sister and companion; not attractive but intelligent and resourceful. She is described as one "of the finest creations in all Victorian fiction" by John Sutherland.
Anne Catherick ("The Woman in White")– An eccentric young woman distinguished by her insistence on white clothes; an illegitimate daughter of Laura's father.
Jane Catherick– Anne's unsympathetic mother; in league with Sir Percival Glyde in committing her daughter to the asylum. Depicted as an unpleasant character.
Vincent Gilmore– Lawyer to the Fairlies and a close friend.
Sir Percival Glyde, Baronet– Laura's fiancé and then husband; able to appear charming and gracious when he wishes but often abrasive.
Count Fosco– Sir Percival's closest friend; his full name is Isidor Ottavio Baldassare Fosco. A grossly obese Italian with a mysterious past: eccentric, bombastic, urbane but intelligent and menacing. He keeps canaries and mice as pets. The Count greatly admires Marian for her intellect, so much that he is willing to compromise several weak points in his plan (such as allowing Marian to retrieve Laura from the asylum) for her sake.
Countess Fosco– Laura's aunt: once a giddy girl but now humourless and in near-unbroken obedience to her husband.
Professor Pesca– A teacher of Italian and a good friend of Walter. The professor finds Walter the Limmeridge job, introducing him to Laura and Marian and proves to be Fosco's unexpected nemesis.
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