Characters
- The Rudges – Barnaby, a simple man, his loving mother Mary, and his companion Grip the loquacious raven
- The Willets – Old John, the keeper of the Maypole Inn, and his kindly son Joe
- The Vardens – Gabriel, the locksmith, his overbearing wife Martha, and his beautiful daughter Dolly
- The Chesters – the villainous Sir John, Esquire, M.P. (Member of Parliament) and his innocent son Edward
- The Haredales – Mr Geoffrey Haredale, younger brother of the murdered Reuben, and his niece (Reuben's daughter) Emma
- Hugh – the sinister handyman of the Maypole Inn
- Lord George Gordon (a fictionalization of the historical personality), his loyal servant John Grueby, and his obsequious and conniving secretary Mr Gashford
- Simon Tappertit – Gabriel Varden's apprentice, and Miggs, Mrs Varden's shrewish lady's maid
- Ned Dennis – the hangman of Tyburn
- The mysterious stranger, ultimately revealed to be Barnaby Rudge Sr, the steward and murderer of Reuben Haredale
- Stagg – the crafty blind man
- Solomon Daisy, 'Long' Phil Parkes, and Tom Cobb, Old John's three cronies
- Mr Langdale – the purple-faced old vintner
Read more about this topic: Barnaby Rudge
Famous quotes containing the word characters:
“Waxed-fleshed out-patients
Still vague from accidents,
And characters in long coats
Deep in the litter-baskets
All dodging the toad work
By being stupid or weak.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)
“A criminal trial is like a Russian novel: it starts with exasperating slowness as the characters are introduced to a jury, then there are complications in the form of minor witnesses, the protagonist finally appears and contradictions arise to produce drama, and finally as both jury and spectators grow weary and confused the pace quickens, reaching its climax in passionate final argument.”
—Clifford Irving (b. 1930)
“Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)