Micheal Ondaatje
As the narrator of the story, Micheal Ondaatje records stories, as well as his travels and experiences in Sri Lanka, as a way to preserve his family's history and to better understand his parents (especially his father, whom he had lived away from since he was a child). Throughout the novel, Ondaatje also undergoes a journey of self-discovery and gains a deeper insight into himself.
Mervyn Ondaatje
He is Micheal Ondaatje's father. Liking to live life on the edge, he is portrayed as an irresponsible person who often gets drunk. Like Micheal, he struggles with his identity.
Doris Gratein
Ondaatje's mother, she left Mervyn and moved to England with her children to get a fresh start in life.
Lalla
She is Micheal Ondaatje's grandmother.
Aunt Phyllis
She is Mervyn Ondaatje's cousin sister who has been delineated by Michael Ondaatje as "minotaur" in the memoir. She was close to Mervyn.
Stephy
Stephy is Mervyn Ondaatje's sister and she is friendly with Mervyn's English fiance, Kaye Roseleap.
Kaye Roseleap
She was briefly engaged to Mervyn.
Uncle Ned
He is Michael Ondaatje's uncle who is heading a commission on race riots and secludes his family in Jaffna.
Philip Ondaatje
Mervyn's father who built Rock Hill, called "Bamba."
Dickie
She is Lalla's sister.
David Granier
He is Dickie's first husband.
Hilden and Trevor de Saram
These two men loved Michael's mother Doris which is discussed in "Lunch Conversation" chapter.
Willie Gratiaen
He is Lalla's husband and a champion cricketer.
Rene de Saram
She is Lalla's neighbour and friend, who runs a dairy.
Vere
Lalla's brother, he is a bachelor.
Shelton de Saram
At first, Lalla was engaged to him before he decided to marry a richer woman.
Muriel Potger
She is a chain smoker. Lalla started a boarding house with her.
Gillian Ondaatje
Michael Ondaatje's sister, she has told Michael the story of how he was bathed at the age of 5.
Arthur Van Langenberg
He is a train driver who Mervyn threatened to shoot if he did not stop to pick up his friend.
V.C. de Silva
He is Mervyn's Medical Advisor and one of his closest friends.
Wendy
She is Noel's daughter.
Archer Jayawardene
He is Mervyn's closest friend and a member of Cactus and Succulent Society.
Sir John Kotewala
He is a fellow Officer in Ceylon Light Infantry with Mervyn. Later he became a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
Ian Goonetileke
He is a librarian at Peredeniya, the Sri Lankan Poet, and Lakdasa Wikkramasinha's friend.
Dolly
She is Mervyn's sister who is half deaf and half blind.
