David Lurie
twice-divorced professor of Communications at Cape Technical University in Cape Town South Africa,fifty-two years old.
Soraya
prostitute that Lurie has visited weekly for over a year.
Melanie Isaacs
student in Lurie's Romantics course who charges a sexual harassament complaint against him after having sex with Lurie.
Lucy
Lurie's daughter who owns a farm and takes care of dogs. Lurie lives with her after he is dismissed from his position at the University.
Bev Shaw
woman who runs the animal shelter and with whom Lurie has an affair.
Bill Shaw
Bev's husband, who sees Davis Lurie as his friend
Petrus
African who works for Lucy
Mr. Isaac
Melanie's father whom Lurie apologizes to after the incident.
Pollux
one of the three South Africans who raped Lucy; Petrus' brother-in-law
Katy
the surviving dog
Elaine Winter
chair of Communications department
Farodia Rassool
Social Studies professor, chair of the committee on discrimination
Aram Hakim
sympathetic member of Melanie's sexual harassment investigation
Rosalind
Lurie's second ex-wife
Evelina
Lucy's biological mother
Teresa Guiccoli
Byron's last mistress before he dies; Byron and Teresa's relationship is the topic of Lurie's opera
Ryan
Melanie's boyfriend
Desiree
Melanie's younger sister
