Jenny/Jenny gerhardt: A girl from a poor family. At first, she worked as a laundryman with her mother in a hotel in Columbus. Later, she worked as a servant in Cleveland's rich Mrs. Bridge's house. After Les left her, she moved to Sandwood near Chicago.

Mrs Gerhardt: Jenny's mother.

William gerhardt: Jenny's father is a German-American, a devout Lutheran, and a glass manufacturer. At the beginning of the story, he was already ill. Later, when his family moved to Cleveland, he lived alone in Youngstown. Finally, after all the other children left him, he was invited by Jenny to live with Jenny and Lester in Chicago and died of typhoid fever.

Sebastian gerhardt: Jenny's brother, also called Buzz.

George, Martha, William and Veronica: Jenny's brothers and sisters.

Senator Brand: I met Jenny when I was staying in a hotel in Columbus. He supports Jenny's poor family. They had sex after Jenny fell in love with him. Before marrying Jenny, he died of typhoid fever. Later, pregnant Jenny gave birth to a girl.

Wilhelmina Vesta: The illegitimate daughter of Jenny and Brand. Jenny kept her secret from her father until he learned about the child in Cleveland. Later, Jenny also hid her from Lester until he found the child. Later, she died of typhoid fever in her 10 s.

Dr. Erwanger: Columbus' doctor.

Reverend Feng Te: A Lutheran priest in Columbus.

Mrs. United Bridge: Jenny's employer. Her husband's name is Henry.

Lester/Lester Kane, Jenny's second lover, is the hero of the story. When he visited his old friend Mrs. Lianqiao's house, he met Jenny, who was then a servant.

Archibald Kane and Mrs Kane: Lester's parents, archibald, are rich in automobile manufacturing.

Robert kidder: Lester's brother, he is a shrewd businessman.

Amy, Imogen and Louise: Lester's sister.

Mrs. Jacob Stendhal, Mr. & Mrs. carmichael Burke, Mrs. Hansen Field, Mrs. Timothy Balingef, Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Somerville: Jenny and Lester live in Hyde Park in the south of Chicago.

Samuel E. Ross: The real estate agent who partnered with Lester lost a lot of money doing business.

Letty Pace: A rich and beautiful widow finally married Lester, whom she always admired.

Mrs Davis: A 50-year-old woman who helped Jenny when Vesta died of illness.

Ross Perpetua and Henry Stoffer: Jenny adopted two orphans after Vesta died of illness.