The enigmatic titular character known as the French Lieutenant's Woman, who is perceived as a social outcast and captivates Charles. Her mysterious and rebellious nature challenges the norms of her time.

A young middle-class woman, engaged to Charles, who embodies the societal ideals and expectations of Victorian femininity. She represents the conventional path of social mobility.

An unnamed and evolving presence who interacts with the characters and events of the story. His subjective narration and meta-commentary highlight the nature of storytelling and the ambiguity of narrative truth.