August is Hattie's husband, who struggles with responsibility and fidelity, often finding solace in leisurely pursuits and depending on Hattie's strength and perseverance.

Bell is one of Hattie's daughters, who grapples with feelings of unlovability, ultimately seeking to escape her internal turmoil through reckless choices and confrontations with her past.

Floyd, one of Hattie's sons, is a gifted musician who struggles with his identity and societal expectations, finding a rare sense of calm only in his mother's presence.

Six is Hattie's son who discovers a seemingly divine gift during a church service, leading to internal conflict and eventual attempts at living up to others' expectations.

Alice is Hattie's daughter who marries into wealth, leading to a life of isolation and uncertainty about her identity, while she dedicates herself to caring for her brother.

Franklin is one of Hattie's sons, who deals with addiction and self-destructive tendencies while in the military and faces the consequences of his choices on his family life.

Cassie is Hattie's eldest daughter, whose life is marked by a struggle with mental illness and an artistic inclination, initially nourished by a love of music that goes unsupported.

Sala is Cassie's young daughter, living with her grandparents after her mother's hospitalization, where she navigates feelings of longing and attempts to understand her family dynamics.