Wang Lung: Wang Lung is a farmer who is at first very humble and content in his home then later becomes a proud, wealthy man who is always troubled in his home. In the beginning of the story he seems happy living as a farmer though at times he feels as though he is nothing to the merchants in the town. Wang Lung shows himself to be obedient to his father and shows that he follows the traditions that his father has instilled in him. When his wealth begins to grow, however, he then becomes boisterous and proud in his heart which makes it difficult to realize that he is indeed ashamed of treating O-Lan as though she were nothing and had done nothing to help him.

             O-Lan: She is the wife of Wang Lung. She has a square figure and a dull face with "dumb" eyes. The Old Mistress says that she is not beautiful and that is the reason why her sons have not touched her. She has been a slave of the House of Hwang since childhood and she rarely ever speaks nor does she smile. When she learns that she is going to die, her heart opens itself to Wang Lung for the very first time. Thought she seemed to Wang as an indesirable woman, she proved to be a wise and beautiful woman inside.

             Wang Lung's Father: Though his body is matured and he is is indeed thought to almost be finished with his life, in him is seen a child. He laughs as though he were a child and when he hears or smells food he follows O-lan eagerly about the kitchen. he also does not do much for himself except lean against the wall of the house in the sunlight.

             Lotus: She is a beautiful woman from the tea shop who comes to live in the house of Wang Lung. She has a slender body with tiny feet and pointed fingers that are soft and delicate. She seems to be spoiled by the hands of Wang Lung and cannot do the things that O-lan did for herself. She acts as though she is better thatn Wang Lung since he is a farmer. When he began tending the fields again and he smelled of garlic, she sent him away as though she had power over him.