Patrick (Paddy) Clarke
Patrick (Paddy) Clarke is the protagonist of the story. He is a ten-year-old Dubliner who has to grow up faster than he has ever wanted. He becomes “the man of the house” after his father leaves the family.
Sinbad
Sinbad is Paddy’s younger brother. Though Patrick can be cruel to Sinbad, he doesn’t really want to hurt him. There are some days when Patrick protects the little boy from their father’s wrath.
The Father
The father is the antagonist of the story. He not only abuses his wife but also mistreats his children. Just like Paddy says, he can be really mean for no reason. Though he is the only breadwinner in the family, he leaves his wife and children.
The Mother
The mother is a pacifier in the family. She does her best to protect the children from their father’s anger which often results in a beating. She almost never allows herself to snap.
Patrick's Classmates
James O’Keefe, Liam, Aidan, and Kevin are classmates of Patrick and his ex-friends. They start boycotting the boy as soon as they learn the news about Patrick’s father. The mere fact that he doesn’t have a father anymore is enough for former friends to start bullying.
Mister Hennessey
Mister Hennessey is a school teacher.
