Bigger’s religious and emotionally expressive mother who has raised her three children alone after her husband's death. She desires for Bigger to find stability in his life amidst societal challenges.

Bigger’s younger brother, who looks up to and supports Bigger unconditionally. He exhibits a trusting and innocent view of the world compared to his older brother.

Bigger’s sister, a sensitive girl who attends sewing classes and experiences self-consciousness similar to Bigger’s hyperawareness of external judgments.

Bigger’s friends and members of his gang with whom he commits petty crimes. Their relationship is marked by an underlying fear and mistrust.

A wealthy white philanthropist who employs Bigger and prides himself on supporting African American causes though he perpetuates racial oppression in his real estate dealings.

Mary Dalton’s visually impaired mother, whose blindness symbolizes a lack of understanding of Black experiences. She offers paternalistic gestures towards Bigger’s education.

A wealthy, young, and idealistic white woman who inadvertently places Bigger in difficult situations due to her lack of awareness about racial dynamics.

Mary’s boyfriend and a communist who initially makes Bigger uncomfortable by trying to treat him as an equal. He later offers Bigger empathy and assistance.

Bigger’s girlfriend who copes with the hardships of her domestic work through alcohol. She is reluctantly drawn into Bigger’s troubled circumstances.

A lawyer from the Labor Defender’s office who defends Bigger, seeing his case as representative of broader racial and social issues.

The State Attorney who views Bigger as subhuman and leverages Mary’s death for political gain, seeking to exploit racial tensions.