Character guide

Caroline Helstone

major

Also known as Caroline, Miss Helstone, Miss Caroline, old Helstone, Helstone, Miss Caroline Helstone, Caroline ere, Cary, Caroline's, Miss Helstone's, Caroline Shirley, Caroline⁠

A quiet, thoughtful young woman living with her uncle, who becomes a central figure in the story.

Shirley Keeldar

major

Also known as Miss Shirley Keeldar, Miss Keeldar, detained Miss Keeldar, Miss Shirley, Shirley Keeldar, Shirley, Keeldar, the kindhearted Shirley, Henry Shirley Keeldar, that Shirley, XIV Shirley

A spirited heiress who becomes Caroline's friend and a force for change in the community.

Robert Moore

major

Also known as Mr. Moore, Moore, Now Mr. Moore, Hereupon Mr. Moore, Accordingly Mr. Moore, Robert Gérard Moore, the said Gérard Moore, Robert, Gérard, Gérard Moore, the said Robert, Mr. Robert, the real Robert, the elder Moore, young Moore, Mr. Robert Moore, that Cousin Robert of yours, Robert⁠, Captain Gérard Moore, Gérard Moore of the Hollow

A mill owner struggling with financial troubles and social tensions in Yorkshire.

Louis Moore

supporting

Also known as Louis, Mr. Moore, Mr. Louis Moore, Mr. Louis, little Louis, Louis Moore Louis Moore, Hortense Louis

Robert's brother, a tutor with a quiet demeanor and a deep connection to Shirley.

Mr. Helstone

supporting

Also known as O Mr. Helstone, Helstone, James Helstone, Jem, neither Helstone, the impracticable Mr. Helstone, old Helstone, Mr. James Helstone, Messrs. Helstone, IX Briarmains Messrs. Helstone, Briarmains, Old Helstone, Helstone.⁠

Caroline's uncle, a stern and opinionated clergyman.

Mr. Yorke

supporting

Also known as III Mr. Yorke, Yorke, IV Mr. Yorke, old Yorke, the imperturbable Yorke, Hiram Yorke, Hiram

A blunt, independent landowner and friend to the Moore family.

Mrs. Pryor

supporting

Also known as Happy Mrs. Pryor, Happy

Shirley's former governess and a quiet, reserved woman with a hidden past.

Hortense Gérard

supporting

Also known as Hortense, Hortense Moore, Cousin Hortense, Moore, Hortense Gérard Moore, Gérard Moore, Miss Hortense

Robert and Louis's sister, a strict and domestic woman.

Joe Scott

supporting

Also known as Scott, Joe, No Joe Scott, Joseph, Joseph Scott

Robert Moore's loyal and outspoken mill overseer.

Mr. Malone

supporting

Also known as Malone, Peter Malone⁠—the Rev. Peter Augustus Malone, Peter, Augustus, Peter Augustus, Peter Augustus Malone, August

A coarse and ambitious curate.

Mr. Donne

supporting

Also known as Donne, XV Mr. Donne

A pompous and self-important curate.

Mrs. Yorke

supporting

Also known as Yorke

Mr. Yorke's sharp-tongued and practical wife.

Henry Sympson

supporting

Also known as Little Harry Sympson, Harry, Henry Sympson, Hal, young Sympson, Harry⁠

Shirley's young, intelligent, and disabled cousin.

Rose Yorke

supporting

Also known as Rose, Rosy

The thoughtful and literary daughter of the Yorke family.

Sir Philip Nunnely

supporting

Also known as Nunnely, Sir Philip, Philip, Philip Nunnely

A young baronet and aspiring poet who courts Shirley.

William Farren

supporting

Also known as glorious William, William Farren, Farren, William, William Farren⁠—who

A poor but principled worker who advocates for the laboring class.

Mr. Hall

supporting

Also known as Hall, Cyril Hall, the Rev. Cyril Hall, The Rev. Cyril Hall, Cyril

A kind and sensible clergyman.

Mr. Sympson

supporting

Also known as Sympson, Whereupon Mr. Sympson, Poor Mr. Sympson

Shirley's uncle, a conventional and domineering man.

Jessy

supporting

Also known as little Jessy, the impetuous little Jessy, the piquant little Jessy, Jessie, little Jessie, Thence Jessie

Henry Sympson's lively and impulsive sister.

Tartar

minor

Also known as the said Tartar, Poor Tartar

Shirley's large and loyal dog.

Miss Ainley

minor

Also known as Poor Miss Ainley

An old, plain, and charitable spinster.

Miss Mann

minor

A sharp-tongued and critical old maid.

Martin Yorke

supporting

Also known as Martin, Yorke

The mischievous and clever son of Mr. Yorke.

Fanny

minor

Also known as The rectorтАЩs Fanny

Mr. Helstone's maid.

Mary Cave

minor

Also known as Mary

The long-dead love of Mr. Helstone and Mr. Yorke.

Mike Hartley

minor

Also known as Mike, Michael Hartley, Michael, little Michael

A half-mad weaver and religious fanatic.

Mr. Sweeting

minor

Also known as Mr. Sweeting of Nunnely, poor Mr. Sweeting, Sweeting, little Sweeting, Little Sweeting, Nunnely, little Mr. Sweeting, Little Mr. Sweeting, Davy, Davy Sweeting, David, Mrs. David Sweeting, David Sweeting, Mrs. Sweeting

A good-natured and somewhat timid curate.

Sarah

minor

Also known as Sara

A servant at the rectory.

Dr. Boultby

minor

Also known as Tom, Boultby, Dr. Thomas Boultby, Thomas, Dr. Rile, Grace, Grace Boultby, Mrs. Boultby

The portly and worldly vicar of Whinbury.

Moses Barraclough

minor

Also known as Barraclough, Moses, the Rev. Moses Barraclough, Mr. Barraclough

A hypocritical Methodist leader and frame-breaker.

Mr. Sykes

minor

Also known as Sykes, old Christopher Sykes, Whinbury, Christopher Sykes o ’ Whinbury, Christopher Sykes

A local landowner and magistrate.

Miss Moore

minor

Also known as Straightforward Miss Moore, Moore

A relative of the Moores, possibly an aunt.

Mrs. Gill

minor

The housekeeper at the rectory.

Lina

minor

A pet name used for Caroline.

Matthew Yorke

minor

Also known as Matthew

The eldest Yorke son, a farmer.

Harry Scott

minor

Also known as Harry, Henry

A young man from the neighborhood.

Mrs. Horsfall

minor

Also known as Horsfall, old Horsfall

A rough nurse who tends to Robert after an attack.

Bob

minor

Also known as Robin - a - Ree

A worker at the mill.

Mr. Wynne

minor

Also known as Wynne, Mr. Sam Wynne, Mr. Sam, Sam Wynne, Meantime poor Sam Wynne, Mr. Samuel Wynne, Samson

A young man who courts one of the Sympson girls.

Mark

minor

A servant at Fieldhead.

Murgatroyd

minor

Also known as Fred, Fred Murgatroyd

A worker at the mill.

Eliza

minor

Also known as Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe

A former schoolmate of Caroline's.

Captain Keeldar

minor

Shirley's deceased father, a merchant and captain.

Pearson

minor

Also known as the mature Ann Pearson, Anne Pearson, Miss Pearson

A former schoolmistress.

Dora Sykes

minor

Also known as Dora, Miss Sykes, Miss Dora, the magnificent Dora Sykes, Sykes

One of the Sykes daughters.

Mrs. Gale

minor

Also known as Mr. and Mrs. Gale, Mr. Gale

A tenant of Mr. Yorke's.

Miss Hardman

minor

A wealthy spinster in the neighborhood.

Harriet

minor

Also known as the lovely Harriet, Miss Harriet

A young woman mentioned in the story.

MacTurk

minor

Also known as Mr. MacTurk, young MacTurk

A young man who attends the school feast.

Margaret Hall

minor

Also known as Margaret, Hall

Mr. Hall's sister.

Adam

minor

A servant at the rectory.

Mrs. Helstone

minor

Also known as Mrs. James Helstone, Mrs. ┬ аMatthewson Helstone, James, Mrs. James, James Helstone, Mrs. Matthewson Helstone, Matthewson Helstone

Caroline's deceased mother.

Phoebe Shirley

minor

Also known as Phoebe

An ancestor of Shirley's mentioned in the story.

Lady Nunnely

minor

Also known as prospective Lady Nunnely, old Lady Nunnely

Sir Philip's mother.

Mrs. Moore

minor

The deceased mother of Robert and Louis.

Saph

minor

A pet name for a character.

Mr. Ramsden

minor

Also known as Ramsden, Timothy Ramsden, Timothy

A local farmer and tenant.

Miss Grey

minor

A governess acquaintance of Mrs. Pryor.

Godfrey

minor

A character mentioned in passing.

Abraham

minor

Also known as the Abraham

A servant at the rectory.

Charles Cave Keeldar

minor

Also known as the late Charles Cave Keeldar of Fieldhead Hall, Fieldhead, the late Charles Cave Keeldar

Shirley's deceased uncle.

Isabella

minor

Also known as Bel

A servant at Fieldhead.

Cupidon

minor

Also known as this Cupidon

Shirley's pet dog.

Smart

minor

A horse owned by Mr. Helstone.

Noah of Tim

minor

Also known as Noah, Noah o ’ Tim

A local character mentioned in the story.