Claudia MacTeer: The primary narrator for parts of the story, Claudia is a strong-willed, independent young girl who resists the idealized white beauty standards embodied by figures like Shirley Temple. She’s fiercely protective of Pecola and offers a grounded, rebellious perspective.

Frieda MacTeer: Claudia’s older sister, a bit more cautious but equally spirited. She shares Claudia’s home and their close-knit family life, which contrasts sharply with Pecola’s instability. Frieda’s protective nature shines through in her interactions with Pecola.

Cholly Breedlove: Pecola’s father, a deeply flawed and broken man. Abandoned as a child and hardened by a life of rejection and violence, Cholly’s actions—most horrifically his rape of Pecola—stem from his own pain, though they devastate his daughter.

Pauline (Polly) Breedlove: Pecola’s mother, who’s emotionally distant and obsessed with the glamour of Hollywood and white ideals. Working as a maid for a white family, she neglects her own, favoring order and escapism over affection.

Sammy Breedlove: Pecola’s older brother, who copes with their dysfunctional family by running away. He’s a minor presence but highlights the chaos of the Breedlove household.

Mrs. MacTeer: Claudia and Frieda’s mother, a stern but loving woman who keeps her family together. Her no-nonsense attitude contrasts with Pauline’s detachment, offering a glimpse of resilience.

Mr. Henry (Henry Washington): A boarder in the MacTeer home, initially charming but later revealed as predatory when he molests Frieda, showing how danger can lurk even in safer spaces.

Soaphead Church (Elihue Micah Whitcomb): A fraudulent “spiritual healer” Pecola turns to in her desperation for blue eyes. A complex, self-loathing man of mixed race, he feeds into her delusion, marking a pivotal moment in her unraveling.

Geraldine: A light-skinned Black woman who embodies internalized racism, raising her son Junior to disdain darker-skinned peers like Pecola. Her coldness underscores the community’s colorism.

Junior: Geraldine’s spoiled son, cruel and manipulative, who torments Pecola by blaming her for the death of his cat.

Maureen Peal: A light-skinned, affluent girl at school who briefly befriends Pecola, only to later turn on her. She represents the privilege and cruelty tied to class and complexion.

The Fisher Girl: The daughter of the white family Pauline serves, a symbol of the beauty and innocence Pauline cherishes over her own child.