Character guide

Gabriel Conroy

major

Also known as Gabriel

A literary man who attends the annual Morkan sisters' party with his wife Gretta.

Little Chandler

major

Also known as Thomas Malone Chandler, Malone Chandler, Tommy, Tom

A timid Dubliner who reunites with his successful friend Gallaher and feels trapped by his life.

Eveline Hill

major

Also known as Eve

A young woman torn between escaping her oppressive home with a sailor and her family duty.

Farrington

major

A frustrated copy clerk who drinks heavily after being humiliated by his boss.

Maria

major

Also known as Polly Mooney, Polly, Mary, Mooney

A gentle, unmarried laundress who visits her former foster children on Halloween.

James Duffy

major

Also known as Mr. James Duffy, Mr. Duffy

A reclusive bank cashier who forms a brief, intense friendship with a married woman.

Lenehan

supporting

A clever but impoverished hanger-on who schemes with Corley in the streets of Dublin.

Corley

supporting

A boastful young man who exploits a maid for money and favors.

Polly Mooney

supporting

The flirtatious daughter of Mrs. Mooney who becomes involved with Mr. Doran.

Mrs. Mooney

supporting

The shrewd boarding-house owner who manipulates her daughter's romance with Mr. Doran.

Mr. Doran

supporting

A respectable clerk who is pressured into marrying Polly Mooney.

Ignatius Gallaher

supporting

Also known as Gallaher, Mr. and Mrs. Ignatius Gallaher

A worldly journalist who returns to Dublin and impresses his old friend Little Chandler.

Mrs. Kearney

supporting

An ambitious mother who manages her daughter Kathleen's musical career.

Kathleen Kearney

supporting

Also known as Miss Kathleen Kearney, Kathleen

A talented young pianist and singer controlled by her mother.

Mr. Holohan

supporting

Also known as Holohan, A Mother Mr. Holohan

The assistant secretary of the Eire Abu Society who organizes a concert series.

Mr. Kernan

supporting

Also known as Kernan

A tea merchant and recovering alcoholic who is persuaded to attend a Catholic retreat.

Mrs. Kernan

minor

The long-suffering wife of Mr. Kernan who supports his religious reformation.

Mr. Cunningham

supporting

Also known as Martin Cunningham, Martin

A kind-hearted and wise man who helps organize Mr. Kernan's return to the Church.

Mr. Power

minor

A jovial friend of Mr. Cunningham who joins the effort to reform Mr. Kernan.

Mr. Browne

minor

Also known as Browne

A Protestant gentleman who accompanies the group to the Jesuit retreat.

Father Purdon

minor

A Jesuit priest who delivers a sermon on business and religion at the retreat.

Gretta Conroy

supporting

Also known as Gretta

Gabriel's wife, whose memories of a lost love stir deep emotions at the party.

Aunt Julia Morkan

supporting

Also known as Julia, Poor Aunt Julia, Miss Julia, Miss Morkan, Miss Julia Morkan

One of the elderly Morkan sisters who hosts the annual Christmas party.

Aunt Kate Morkan

supporting

Also known as Kate, Miss Kate

The younger Morkan sister who co-hosts the family Christmas gathering.

Mary Jane

minor

Also known as Molly

The niece of the Morkan sisters who gives piano lessons and plays at the party.

Freddy Malins

minor

Also known as Malins, the sottish Malins

A drunken young man who arrives late to the Morkan party with his mother.

Miss Ivors

minor

A spirited nationalist who challenges Gabriel about his lack of Irish pride.

Mr. Bartell D'Arcy

minor

Also known as that Mr. D'Arcy, Bartell D'Arcy, Mr. D'Arcy, poor Mr. D'Arcy

A famous tenor who sings at the Morkan party and has a cold.

Michael Furey

minor

Also known as this Michael Furey

Gretta's deceased childhood sweetheart who died for love of her.

Lily

minor

Also known as The Dead Lily

The caretaker's daughter who helps at the Morkan party and speaks with Gabriel.

Mr. Henchy

supporting

Also known as Neither Mr. Henchy

A scheming political canvasser working for a candidate in a local election.

Mr. Hynes

minor

Also known as Hynes, Joe Hynes, Joe

A loyal follower of the late Parnell who canvasses for a different candidate.

Mr. O'Connor

minor

A canvasser who works alongside Mr. Henchy in the election campaign.

Mr. Crofton

minor

Also known as Crofton

A conservative canvasser who joins the group in the committee room.

Mr. Lyons

minor

A man who argues about politics and betting in the committee room.

Mr. Fogarty

minor

Also known as Fogarty

A grocer who visits Mr. Kernan during his recovery and joins the retreat group.

Mr. Harford

minor

Also known as Harford

A moneylender who is discussed disapprovingly by the men at the retreat.

Mr. M'Coy

minor

Also known as M'Coy

A friend of Lenehan who borrows a valise for his wife's supposed singing tour.

Old Cotter

minor

Also known as Mr. Cotter, old Cotter

A garrulous old man who comments on the death of Father Flynn.

Father James Flynn

minor

Also known as The Rev. James Flynn, James

A paralyzed priest whose death opens the story and haunts the young narrator.

Eliza

minor

Also known as Lizzie Fleming, Fleming

The sister of Father Flynn who discusses his death with the narrator's aunt.

Nannie

minor

The other sister of Father Flynn who greets visitors at his wake.

Mahony

minor

The narrator's adventurous school friend during their day of truancy.

Joe Dillon

minor

Also known as Joe

A boy who leads wild games of cowboys and Indians before entering the priesthood.

Leo Dillon

minor

Also known as Leo, Dillon

A timid schoolboy who fails to join the narrator and Mahony on their adventure.

Mangan's Sister

minor

The unnamed girl the young narrator is infatuated with in Araby.

Frank

minor

A sailor who courts Eveline and offers her a new life in Buenos Aires.

Charles Ségouin

minor

Also known as Ségouin, Moreover Ségouin, Charlie

A wealthy Frenchman who hosts the after-race party and drives a racing car.

Villona

minor

Also known as Decidedly Villona

A Hungarian pianist who accompanies the racing party and plays at dinner.

Jimmy Doyle

minor

Also known as Poor James, James, Jimmy

A young Irishman who invests in the racing venture and loses money at cards.

André Rivière

minor

Also known as Rivière

A French driver who competes in the race and socializes with the group.

Jack Mooney

minor

Also known as Jack

Polly's brother, a rough man who threatens Mr. Doran over his sister's honor.

Annie

minor

A servant in the boarding house who gossips about Polly and Mr. Doran.

Mr. Alleyne

minor

Also known as Simultaneously Mr. Alleyne, Alleyne

Farrington's harsh and mocking boss at the law firm.

Miss Delacour

minor

A wealthy client who visits the law office where Farrington works.

Weathers

minor

A young acrobat who drinks with Farrington and beats him at arm wrestling.

Nosey Flynn

minor

A gossipy barfly who frequents Davy Byrne's pub and knows everyone's business.

Father Keon

minor

Also known as O Father Keon

A shabby, mysterious priest who visits the committee room on election day.

Old Jack

minor

Also known as Jack, Johnny

The elderly caretaker who tends the fire in the committee room.

Madam Glynn

minor

A faded soprano who auditions for the concert but is rejected.

Miss Beirne

minor

The woman who runs the refreshment stall at the concert.

Miss Healy

minor

A young woman who performs at the concert and is paid before the others.

Miss Furlong

minor

A young soprano who performs at the concert organized by Mrs. Kearney.

Mr. Fitzpatrick

minor

The manager of the concert series who clashes with Mrs. Kearney over payment.

Captain Sinico

minor

The husband of Mrs. Sinico, who is mentioned in the aftermath of her death.

Mrs. Emily Sinico

minor

Also known as Mrs. Sinico, Miss Mary Sinico

A lonely woman who befriends Mr. Duffy and later dies in a railway accident.

Miss Devlin

minor

A young woman who briefly dates Mr. Duffy before he becomes a recluse.

Father Butler

minor

Also known as Butler

A priest who scolds the schoolboys for reading Wild West stories.

Mrs. Mercer

minor

An elderly woman who collects stamps for a religious mission and visits Maria.

Ginger Mooney

minor

A coarse woman who works with Maria at the laundry and speaks roughly.

Alphy

minor

One of Maria's former foster children, mentioned as not getting along with his brother.

Joe Donnelly

minor

Maria's former foster son who welcomes her on Halloween evening.

Mrs. Donnelly

minor

Joe Donnelly's wife who hosts Maria for the Halloween celebration.

Old Keegan

minor

An elderly man who lives in the boarding house and is mentioned in passing.

Miss Higgins

minor

Also known as Higgins

A young woman who works at the laundry with Maria.

Miss Daly

minor

A pianist who accompanies the singers at the Morkan party.

Miss O'Callaghan

minor

A young woman who flirts with Freddy Malins at the Morkan party.

Mrs. Malins

minor

Freddy Malins' elderly mother who attends the Morkan party with him.

Mr. Conroy

minor

Gabriel's father, mentioned in stories about his past at the party.

Paddy Leonard

minor

Also known as Pat, Leonard

A friend of Lenehan and Corley who appears briefly in the streets.