Short Fiction · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Short Fiction by Herman Melville.
Captain Amasa Delano
major
Also known as Delano, Captain Delano, Amasa Delano, Don Amasa
American sea captain who boards a mysterious Spanish ship and uncovers a slave revolt.
Benito Cereno
major
Also known as Don Benito, Don Benito Cereno
Spanish captain of the San Dominick, traumatized by a slave revolt aboard his ship.
Bartleby
major
Also known as poor Bartleby, the wasted Bartleby
A strange, passive scrivener who repeatedly says 'I would prefer not to.'
Billy Budd
major
Also known as Billy, William Budd, Baby Budd
A handsome, innocent young sailor impressed into the Royal Navy who kills Claggart.
Captain the Honourable Edward Fairfax Vere
major
Also known as Captain Vere, Edward Fairfax Vere, Vere, Fairfax
Stoic captain of the HMS Indomitable who must judge Billy Budd after Claggart's death.
John Claggart
major
Also known as Claggart, envy Claggart
The master-at-arms on the Indomitable who falsely accuses Billy Budd of mutiny.
Hunilla
supporting
Also known as lone Hunilla
A Chola widow stranded on Norfolk Isle, enduring great loss and solitude.
Oberlus
supporting
Also known as this King Oberlus, the Hermit Oberlus, Fatherless Oberlus, Emperor Oberlus
A misanthropic hermit and tyrant who lives alone on Hood's Isle.
Jimmy Rose
supporting
Also known as James, Jimmy, James Rose, poor Jimmy
A once-wealthy man who falls into poverty but remains cheerful and beloved.
Turkey
supporting
An older scrivener in Bartleby's office, energetic in the morning but erratic after noon.
Nippers
supporting
Also known as Mr. Nippers
A young, ambitious scrivener who suffers from indigestion and irritability.
Ginger Nut
minor
Also known as Ginger
The office boy who runs errands and fetches ginger nuts for the scriveners.
Bannadonna
supporting
A brilliant but secretive architect who builds a bell tower with a deadly automaton.
Hautboy
minor
Also known as Poor Hautboy, the easy, indifferent Hautboy
A cheerful, contented fiddler who lives a simple life despite his talent.
Babo
supporting
The cunning leader of the slave revolt on the San Dominick, posing as a loyal servant.
Atufal
minor
A powerful African chained on the San Dominick, secretly part of the slave revolt.
Alexandro Aranda
minor
Also known as Don Alexandro, Aranda, Don Alexandro Aranda
A Spanish slave owner whose skeleton is displayed as a figurehead after the revolt.
The Dansker
supporting
Also known as Dansker, the sage Dansker
An old, wise sailor on the Indomitable who warns Billy about Claggart.
Merrymusk
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Merrymusk
A poor but joyful farmer whose family finds solace in a crowing rooster.
Blandmour
minor
Also known as poet Blandmour, dear Blandmour
A poet who romanticizes poverty and the simple life in his conversations.
The Stranger
minor
Also known as a stranger, A stranger
A mysterious visitor who engages the narrator in philosophical discussions.
The Lightning-Rod Man
minor
A peddler who tries to sell lightning rods by instilling fear of storms.
The Narrator (Bartleby)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A Wall Street lawyer who hires Bartleby and tries to understand his passive resistance.
The Narrator (Encantadas)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes the desolate Galapagos islands and their inhabitants.
The Narrator (I and My Chimney)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
An old man who stubbornly defends his massive chimney against his family's demands.
The Narrator (The Piazza)
supporting
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who builds a piazza and becomes fascinated by a distant mountain cottage.
The Narrator (The Apple-Tree Table)
supporting
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who discovers a mysterious insect emerging from an old apple-wood table.
The Narrator (The Happy Failure)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A young man who accompanies his uncle on a failed invention experiment.
The Narrator (The Two Temples)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A traveler who contrasts his experiences in a London church and a New York theater.
The Narrator (Paradise of Bachelors)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor to a lavish bachelor's club in London who later sees a paper mill.
The Narrator (Poor Man's Pudding)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor who observes the harsh poverty of a rural family during a rainstorm.
The Narrator (Rich Man's Crumbs)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who attends a lavish feast in London and later sees the poor scavenging scraps.
The Narrator (The Gees)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor to a remote island who observes the peculiar customs of the Gee people.
The Narrator (Daniel Orme)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the story of the mysterious and solitary Daniel Orme.
The Narrator (The Bell-Tower)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A historian who recounts the rise and fall of the architect Bannadonna.
The Narrator (Jimmy Rose)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A friend who remembers the decline of the once-prosperous Jimmy Rose.
The Narrator (Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A depressed man who finds joy in the crowing of a magnificent rooster.
The Narrator (The Fiddler)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A struggling poet who meets a contented fiddler named Hautboy.
The Narrator (The Lightning-Rod Man)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A homeowner who argues with a lightning-rod salesman during a storm.
The Narrator's Uncle (The Happy Failure)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
An inventor who becomes obsessed with a draining machine that ultimately fails.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Ten)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who reflects on the runaways, castaways, and graves of the islands.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Five)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes the frigate and ship Flyaway near the Encantadas.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Six)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the history of buccaneers on Barrington Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Seven)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who tells the story of the Dog-King on Charles's Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Four)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes a Pisgah view from Rock Rodondo.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Three)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes the towering Rock Rodondo and its bird life.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Two)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes the two sides of a tortoise on the Encantadas.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch One)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who introduces the desolate Galapagos islands at large.
The Narrator (Paradise of Bachelors)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A guest at a lavish bachelor's dinner in the Temple, London.
The Narrator (Tartarus of Maids)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor to a grim paper mill where pale women work in harsh conditions.
The Narrator (Two Temples: First)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who is turned away from a wealthy church and finds solace in a theater.
The Narrator (Two Temples: Second)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who attends a grand opera performance in a New York theater.
The Narrator (Benito Cereno)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
The third-person narrator who recounts the events on the San Dominick.
The Narrator (Billy Budd)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
The third-person narrator who tells the story of Billy Budd and Captain Vere.
The Narrator (The Bell-Tower)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A historian who narrates the story of Bannadonna's bell tower.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Eight)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who tells the story of the Chola widow Hunilla on Norfolk Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Nine)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the story of the hermit Oberlus on Hood's Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Ten)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who reflects on the graves and solitaries of the Encantadas.
The Narrator (Poor Man's Pudding)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor who observes the poverty of a farmer named Coulter and his family.
The Narrator (Rich Man's Crumbs)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who attends a Guildhall feast and later sees the poor scavenging.
The Narrator (The Happy Failure)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A young man who helps his uncle with a failed invention.
The Narrator (The Lightning-Rod Man)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A homeowner who confronts a lightning-rod salesman during a thunderstorm.
The Narrator (The Fiddler)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A struggling poet who meets a cheerful fiddler named Hautboy.
The Narrator (Paradise of Bachelors)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A guest at a lavish bachelor's dinner in the Temple, London.
The Narrator (Tartarus of Maids)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor to a grim paper mill where pale women work in harsh conditions.
The Narrator (I and My Chimney)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
An old man who stubbornly defends his massive chimney against his family.
The Narrator (The Apple-Tree Table)
supporting
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who discovers a mysterious insect emerging from an old apple-wood table.
The Narrator (The Piazza)
supporting
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who builds a piazza and becomes fascinated by a distant mountain cottage.
The Narrator (Billy Budd)
major
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
The third-person narrator who tells the story of Billy Budd and Captain Vere.
The Narrator (Daniel Orme)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the story of the mysterious and solitary Daniel Orme.
The Narrator (Two Temples: First)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who is turned away from a wealthy church and finds solace in a theater.
The Narrator (Two Temples: Second)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who attends a grand opera performance in a New York theater.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Five)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who describes the frigate and ship Flyaway near the Encantadas.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Six)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the history of buccaneers on Barrington Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Seven)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who tells the story of the Dog-King on Charles's Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Eight)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who tells the story of the Chola widow Hunilla on Norfolk Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Nine)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who recounts the story of the hermit Oberlus on Hood's Isle.
The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Ten)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A sailor who reflects on the runaways, castaways, and graves of the islands.
The Narrator (Poor Man's Pudding)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A visitor who observes the poverty of a farmer named Coulter and his family.
The Narrator (Rich Man's Crumbs)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A man who attends a Guildhall feast and later sees the poor scavenging.
The Narrator (The Happy Failure)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A young man who helps his uncle with a failed invention.
The Narrator (The Lightning-Rod Man)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A homeowner who confronts a lightning-rod salesman during a thunderstorm.
The Narrator (The Fiddler)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A struggling poet who meets a cheerful fiddler named Hautboy.
The Narrator (Paradise of Bachelors)
minor
Also known as Unknown, the man, this man
A guest at a lavish bachelor's dinner in the Temple, London.
