Clare Savage
The light-skinned, mixed-race protagonist of the novel. Clare's maternal lineage includes Maroon rebels, while her father's family descends from British colonizers. She struggles to reconcile these conflicting heritages, navigate societal expectations, and understand her place in a divided Jamaica.
Boy Savage
Clare's father, very light-skinned and proud of his English ancestry. He is a descendant of a plantation-owning family and embodies colonial privilege. Immature and financially careless, he believes strongly in the family's social status and place among the "Presbyterian Elect."
Kitty Savage (née Freeman)
Clare's mother, from a poorer, mixed-race family and a descendant of Maroon rebels. Reserved and emotionally distant, she connects with Jamaican culture but often remains silent on racial issues to avoid conflict with her husband.
Zoe
A dark-skinned girl from a poor family who befriends Clare. Their relationship highlights class and racial divides in Jamaica, challenging Clare to confront her own privilege and assumptions.
Judge Savage
Clare's white great-great-grandfather on her father's side. As a brutal plantation owner, he committed acts of violence against slaves, symbolizing the oppressive history embedded in Clare's paternal lineage.
Miss Mattie
Clare's maternal grandmother, wise but emotionally reserved. Her silence reflects the weight of inherited trauma and influences Clare's understanding of her heritage.
Jennie Savage
Clare's younger sister, whose complexion resembles their mother's. Her presence emphasizes variations in mixed-race identity within the same family.
Miss Winnifred
An outcast figure Clare meets later in the novel. She offers Clare a perspective outside conventional societal norms, suggesting alternative paths and choices.
