Pecola Breedlove is a dark-skinned African American girl from a poor family, who believes that possessing blue eyes will transform how others see her. Throughout the novel, she endures significant trauma, including familial neglect and abuse. Her longing for blue eyes symbolizes her desire for acceptance and love from her community.

Frieda MacTeer is Claudia's older sister, on the verge of adolescence. She is a mix of innocence and emerging awareness, believing in rituals to save Pecola's baby and understanding the significance of menstruation. A key event for Frieda is the molestation by Mr. Henry, which impacts her maturity and illustrates her family's protective values.

Cholly Breedlove is Pecola's father, abandoned as a child and shaped by traumatic experiences, including an assault by white men and rejection by his father. He is depicted as a violent, impulsive, and abusive figure who struggles with the demons from his past.

Pauline Breedlove, originally from Alabama, is Pecola's mother and focuses more on maintaining appearances than nurturing her children. Her life is marked by feelings of inadequacy and loss, particularly after injuries and personal disappointments. She finds solace and identity in her work as a housekeeper, gaining respect for her dedication and faith.

Mr. Henry is a charming older man who boards with the MacTeer family. Initially seen as respectable, he is later revealed to engage in inappropriate behavior, including bringing sex workers into the home and molesting Frieda, which leads to a violent confrontation with Mr. MacTeer.

Mrs. MacTeer is Claudia and Frieda's mother, known for her generosity in taking Pecola into her home and her strict, protective nature towards her daughters. She is portrayed as a church-going woman who balances financial stress with fierce love for her family.

Mr. MacTeer, Claudia and Frieda's father, is a minor but significant presence. He actively protects his children, exemplified by his aggressive response to Mr. Henry's inappropriate actions toward Frieda. He is one of the few positive father figures in the novel.

Maureen Peal is a light-skinned African American girl who gains admiration from peers and teachers due to her appearance. Her treatment of Pecola and the MacTeer sisters reveals her underlying cruelty and the impact of internalized racism.

Geraldine is Louis Junior's mother, epitomizing the standards of respectable black womanhood. She maintains a pristine home and distances her family from individuals like Pecola, exposing the limitations and harshness of her values.

Louis Junior, the son of Geraldine, is a cruel child who abuses both animals and people. Raised in a strict and repressive environment, his behavior reflects the impact of his upbringing.

Rosemary Villanucci is the wealthy white child of a café owner, who taunts the MacTeer girls from her family's car. Her presence highlights the racial and economic divides in the community.

Samson Fuller is Cholly's likely father, who abandons Cholly's mother and later rejects Cholly. His portrayal is of a man disinterested and detached from familial responsibilities.

Miss Marie, also known as Maginot Line, is an obese sex worker living above the Breedloves. She shows kindness to Pecola but also indulges in inappropriate conversations around her.