# The Child of the Cavern — Character guide

> Key figures in The Child of the Cavern by Jules Verne.

- [Harry Ford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/harry_ford.md): Son of Simon Ford, a young miner who becomes a central figure in the story.
- [Nell](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/nell.md): A mysterious young woman raised in the caverns, later adopted by the Ford family.
- [James Starr](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/james_starr.md): Engineer who returns to the Dochart pit and leads explorations of the cavern.
- [Jack Ryan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/jack_ryan.md): A superstitious miner and friend of Harry Ford, often providing comic relief.
- [Simon Ford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/simon_ford.md): Harry's father, an old miner who discovers strange phenomena in the pit.
- [Madge](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/madge.md): Simon Ford's wife and Harry's mother, a kind and practical woman.
- [Silfax](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/silfax.md): A reclusive old man living in the caverns, guardian of Nell and the Harfang.
- [Sir William Elphiston](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/sir_william_elphiston.md): A local landowner and magistrate involved in the story's events.
- [Harfang](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/harfang.md): A giant bird that lives in the cavern and is associated with Silfax.
- [Arthur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/arthur.md): A minor character mentioned in the narrative, possibly a servant or worker.

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