# Essays — Character guide

> Key figures in Essays by Henry David Thoreau.

- [Henry David Thoreau](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/henry_david_thoreau.md): Author and narrator; reflects on nature, society, and individual conscience.
- [Sir Walter Raleigh](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_walter_raleigh.md): Elizabethan explorer and writer; subject of a biographical essay.
- [Thomas Carlyle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/thomas_carlyle.md): Scottish philosopher and historian; Thoreau critiques his works.
- [Captain John Brown](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/captain_john_brown.md): Abolitionist leader; Thoreau defends his actions at Harpers Ferry.
- [Joe Aitteon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/joe_aitteon.md): Native American guide on Thoreau's Maine woods expedition.
- [The Landlord](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_landlord.md): Personification of hospitality and innkeeping in an allegorical essay.
- [Aulus Persius Flaccus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/aulus_persius_flaccus.md): Roman satirist; Thoreau translates and discusses his poetry.
- [Homer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/homer.md): Ancient Greek poet; referenced as a heroic bard.
- [Ossian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/ossian.md): Legendary Gaelic bard; subject of a comparative essay.
- [Chaucer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/chaucer.md): English poet; Thoreau examines his earthy realism.
- [Wendell Phillips](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/wendell_phillips.md): Abolitionist orator; Thoreau praises his eloquence.
- [Mr. Etzler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/mr_etzler.md): Author of a utopian technological scheme; Thoreau critiques him.
- [Oliver Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/oliver_cromwell.md): English military and political leader; cited as a heroic figure.
- [Shakespeare](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/shakespeare.md): English playwright; referenced as a literary touchstone.
- [Goethe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/goethe.md): German poet and philosopher; admired by Thoreau.
- [Sir Philip Sidney](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_philip_sidney.md): Elizabethan poet and courtier; example of chivalric virtue.
- [General Washington](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/general_washington.md): First U.S. president; invoked as a symbol of integrity.
- [Mr. Rogers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/mr_rogers.md): Abolitionist editor; Thoreau references his reform efforts.
- [Schiller](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/schiller.md): German poet and playwright; quoted on freedom and art.
- [Tahmunt Swasen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/tahmunt_swasen.md): Native American encountered during Thoreau's Maine travels.
- [Sabattis Solomon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sabattis_solomon.md): Native American guide in the Maine woods.
- [Diana](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/diana.md): Roman goddess of the hunt; mentioned in poetic contexts.
- [Neptune](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/neptune.md): Roman god of the sea; appears in classical allusions.
- [Mr. Loring](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/mr_loring.md): Local official or acquaintance mentioned in passing.
- [Thomson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/thomson.md): Poet referenced in discussions of nature writing.
- [Virgil](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/virgil.md): Roman poet; cited as a model of pastoral literature.
- [Julius Caesar](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/julius_caesar.md): Roman general and dictator; historical example of ambition.
- [Humboldt](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/humboldt.md): German naturalist and explorer; admired for scientific curiosity.
- [Plato](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/plato.md): Greek philosopher; referenced in discussions of ideal forms.
- [Wordsworth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/wordsworth.md): English Romantic poet; quoted on nature and imagination.
- [John Winthrop](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/john_winthrop.md): First governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony; historical reference.
- [Samuel Champlain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/samuel_champlain.md): French explorer of Canada; mentioned in travel narrative.
- [Alexander Milne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/alexander_milne.md): Scottish poet or acquaintance; minor reference.
- [Coleridge](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/coleridge.md): English poet and critic; cited on imagination.
- [Christ](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/christ.md): Central figure of Christianity; invoked as moral exemplar.
- [Queen Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/queen_elizabeth.md): Tudor monarch; patron of Raleigh and exploration.
- [Michaux](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/michaux.md): French botanist who studied North American flora.
- [Milton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/milton.md): English poet; author of Paradise Lost; cited on liberty.
- [Sir John Franklin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_john_franklin.md): Arctic explorer; his disappearance noted in passing.
- [Emerson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/emerson.md): Transcendentalist philosopher and Thoreau's mentor.
- [Richter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/richter.md): German writer; quoted on humor and philosophy.
- [Sir Henry Wotton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/sir_henry_wotton.md): English diplomat and poet; cited on travel and observation.
- [Anthony Burns](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/burns.md): Fugitive slave whose capture sparked protests in Boston.
- [Paley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/paley.md): English theologian; referenced on natural religion.
- [Kalm](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/kalm.md): Swedish-Finnish botanist; traveled in North America.
- [Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/marlowe.md): Elizabethan playwright; referenced in literary context.
- [Horace Greeley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/horace_greeley.md): Newspaper editor; Thoreau corresponded with him.
- [Linnaeus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/linnaeus.md): Swedish botanist; father of modern taxonomy.
- [John Smith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/john_smith.md): English explorer of Virginia; early colonial figure.
- [Dante](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/dante.md): Italian poet; author of The Divine Comedy.
- [King George III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/king_george_iii.md): British monarch during American Revolution; symbol of tyranny.
- [Guyot](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/guyot.md): Swiss-American geographer; cited on physical geography.
- [Orpheus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/orpheus.md): Mythical Greek musician; symbol of poetic power.
- [Edward Irving](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/edward_irving.md): Scottish clergyman; mentioned in Carlyle essay.
- [Muhammad](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/muhammad.md): Prophet of Islam; cited as a heroic reformer.
- [Luther](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/luther.md): German Protestant reformer; example of moral courage.
- [Ben Jonson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/ben_jonson.md): Elizabethan playwright and poet; contemporary of Shakespeare.
- [Epaminondas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/epaminondas.md): Theban general; example of ancient heroism.
- [Pliny](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/pliny.md): Roman naturalist; author of Natural History.
- [Josselyn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/josselyn.md): Early New England naturalist and writer.
- [Dr. Kane](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/dr_kane.md): American Arctic explorer; mentioned in passing.
- [Pizarro](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/pizarro.md): Spanish conquistador of Peru; example of greed.
- [Giordano Bruno](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/giordano_bruno.md): Italian philosopher burned for heresy; symbol of free thought.
- [F. B. Sanborn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/f_b_sanborn.md): Abolitionist and Thoreau's friend; helped John Brown.
- [Jacques Cartier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/jacques_cartier.md): French explorer of the St. Lawrence River.
- [The St. Francis Indian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_indian.md): Native American encountered on a steamer journey.
- [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_old_man.md): Elderly figure encountered in travel or allegory.
- [A Priest in the Streets](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/a_priest_in_the_streets.md): Religious figure observed during a walk in Quebec.
- [The Judge](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_judge.md): Legal authority figure in a moral anecdote.
- [The Hero](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_hero.md): Generic heroic figure in philosophical passages.
- [The Soul](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_soul.md): Personified inner self in transcendental reflections.
- [The State](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_state.md): Personified government in civil disobedience essay.
- [The English](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_english.md): National group referenced in travel observations.
- [The French](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_french.md): National group encountered in Canadian travels.
- [The Canadians](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_canadians.md): Local inhabitants observed during Quebec journey.
- [The Yankees](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_yankees.md): New Englanders contrasted with other groups.
- [The Highlanders](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_highlanders.md): Scottish soldiers or settlers in Canada.
- [The Indians](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters/the_indians.md): Native American groups referenced in travel and history.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/essays_2_se/characters