Character guide

George Willard

major

Also known as George, Will, young Willard, young George Willard, Willy

Young reporter for the Winesburg Eagle, central figure connecting many stories.

Jesse Bentley

supporting

Also known as Jesse, The Bentley

Ambitious, religious patriarch of the Bentley farm, obsessed with legacy.

Louise Bentley

supporting

Also known as Louise

Unhappy daughter of Jesse Bentley, married to John Hardy.

Seth Richmond

supporting

Also known as young Seth, Seth

Quiet, thoughtful young man who struggles with his feelings for Helen White.

Tom Foster

supporting

Also known as Drink Tom Foster, Tom

Young man who turns to drink after a profound emotional experience.

Alice Hindman

supporting

Also known as Alice

Woman who waits years for a lover who never returns, leading to a crisis.

David Hardy

supporting

Also known as David, Young David Hardy, young David

Grandson of Jesse Bentley, flees his grandfather's religious fervor.

Elmer Cowley

supporting

Also known as Cowley, Elmer

Young man who feels like an outsider and desperately wants to be normal.

Joe Welling

supporting

Also known as Joe

Enthusiastic, fast-talking man whose ideas overwhelm everyone around him.

Enoch Robinson

supporting

Also known as Enoch, young Robinson, young Enoch, old Enoch

Artist who creates an imaginary world to escape loneliness in New York.

Wash Williams

supporting

Also known as Williams, old Wash, Wash

Bitter telegraph operator, misogynistic after a failed marriage.

Helen White

supporting

Also known as Helen

Beautiful daughter of the banker, object of affection for several young men.

Elizabeth Willard

supporting

Also known as Mother Elizabeth Willard, Elizabeth

George's mother, a woman with unfulfilled dreams and a troubled past.

Ray Pearson

supporting

Also known as Ray

Farmhand who regrets his early marriage and warns a younger man.

Kate Swift

supporting

Passionate schoolteacher who tries to mentor George Willard.

Tom Willard

supporting

Also known as Tom Willy, windy old Tom Willard, Tom

George's father, a boastful and ineffectual hotel owner.

Wing Biddlebaum

supporting

Also known as Biddlebaum

Former teacher with expressive hands, haunted by a scandal.

Doctor Parcival

supporting

Also known as The Philosopher Doctor Parcival

Eccentric doctor who tells strange stories and fears being hanged.

Hal Winters

supporting

Also known as Hal

Young farmer known for his strength and wild behavior.

Doctor Reefy

supporting

Also known as Reefy, old Doctor Reefy

Old doctor who writes thoughts on paper pills and marries Elizabeth Willard.

Adolph Myers

minor

Wing Biddlebaum's former identity as a teacher in Pennsylvania.

Belle Carpenter

minor

Also known as An Awakening Belle Carpenter, Belle

Young woman who works in a store and dates Ed Handby.

Ed Handby

minor

Also known as Handby, Ed, Edward

Bartender who competes with George Willard for Belle Carpenter.

Ned Currie

minor

Also known as Ned

Young man who leaves Winesburg and Alice Hindman behind.

Louise Trunnion

minor

Also known as Louise

Young woman who has a brief sexual encounter with George Willard.

Virginia Richmond

minor

Seth Richmond's mother, a widow who runs a farm.

Enoch Bentley

minor

Also known as Enoch

Jesse Bentley's brother, who leaves the farm for the city.

Ebenezer Cowley

minor

Also known as Cowley

Elmer Cowley's father, a storekeeper in Winesburg.

Louise Hardy

minor

Also known as Louise

Daughter of John Hardy, sister of David Hardy.

John Hardy

minor

Also known as Mrs. John Hardy, Hardy

Banker who marries Louise Bentley, father of David.

Albert Hardy

minor

Also known as Hardy

Son of John Hardy, brother of David.

Tom Hard

minor

Also known as Tom

Father of Tandy Hard, a man with a violent temper.

Windpeter Winters

minor

Also known as old Windpeter, Windpeter, old Windpeter Winters

Hal Winters' father, a violent drunkard killed in a train accident.

Will Henderson

minor

Editor of the Winesburg Eagle, George Willard's boss.

Tom King

minor

Husband of Sarah King, a farmer who dies young.

Henry Carpenter

minor

Belle Carpenter's father, a stern and religious man.

Henry Brattenburg

minor

Also known as Hal, young Hal

Young man who works at the livery stable.

Hop Higgins

minor

Town night watchman who patrols the streets.

Tom Little

minor

Also known as Tom

Man who runs a livery stable in Winesburg.

Mook

minor

Half-witted farmhand on the Bentley farm.

Sarah King

minor

Also known as Sarah

Widow who becomes the object of Reverend Hartman's desire.

Wesley Moyer

minor

Also known as Moyer, Wesley

Young man who works at the livery stable.

Katherine Bentley

minor

Also known as Katherine

Jesse Bentley's wife, mother of Louise.

Edward King

minor

Also known as Old Edward King, old Edward King

Father of Tom King, an old farmer.

Tandy Hard

minor

Also known as Tandy

Young girl renamed Tandy by a stranger in town.

Harriet

minor

Sister of Seth Richmond, mentioned in passing.

Nell Gunther

minor

Also known as Nell

Young woman who works at the hotel dining room.

Mary Hardy

minor

Also known as Mary

Daughter of John Hardy, sister of David.

Mrs. White

minor

Helen White's mother, a socialite in Winesburg.

Aunt Elizabeth Swift

minor

Also known as Elizabeth

Kate Swift's aunt, who raised her.

Tony Tip

minor

Young boy who works at the livery stable.

Ed Griffith

minor

Also known as Edward, Griffith

Young man who works at the drug store.

Turk Smollet

minor

Also known as Turk

Young man who works at the livery stable.

Art Wilson

minor

Also known as Art

Young man who works at the livery stable.

Gertrude Wilmot

minor

Woman who runs a boarding house in Winesburg.

Banker White

minor

Helen White's father, a wealthy banker.

Old Tom Bentley

minor

Also known as old Tom

Father of Jesse and Enoch Bentley, a farmer.

Young John

minor

Also known as John

Young man who works at the livery stable.

McKinley

minor

Also known as This McKinley

Man who runs a saloon in Winesburg.

Ed Thomas

minor

Also known as Edward the father, Tom

Father of Tom Foster, a carpenter.

John Spaniard

minor

Man who runs a restaurant in Winesburg.

Biff Carter

minor

Man who runs a lunch room in Winesburg.

Clarence Richmond

minor

Virginia Richmond's deceased husband, Seth's father.

Sugars McNutts

minor

Man who runs a saloon in Winesburg.

Thad Grayback

minor

Man who runs a livery stable in Winesburg.

Mabel

minor

Young woman who works at the hotel dining room.