Lord Ruthven
Lord Ruthven is a British aristocrat who appears on the social scene of London's noble classes. His face has a deadly hue and he has dead gray eyes. He is self-absorbed and seems indifferent to everything around him. People are strongly attracted to him and seek his affection. Ruthven seduces and ruins young, virtuous women and brings the affluent to their downfall. It is strongly suggested that he is a vampire.
Aubrey
Aubrey is a wealthy orphan whose only family is his beloved sister. He is handsome and vain, and he uses his imagination more than his judgement. Aubrey develops a fascination for Lord Ruthven, who eventually brings him and those he loves to their ruin.
Ianthe
Ianthe is a young, beautiful, innocent Greek girl whom Aubrey meets when he goes to Greece after deciding to part ways with Ruthven. Aubrey sees Ianthe as authentically virtuous. She seems unaware that Aubrey loves her and is fascinated by supernatural tales, especially about vampires. Eventually she dies, presumably at the hands of a vampire.
Miss Aubrey
Aubrey's only sister. She is eighteen years old. Miss Aubrey does not have that "winning grace" that gains the praise and affection of drawing-room crowds. Yet she is thoughtful and her soul appears to be conscious of "a brighter realm." Eventually, Ruthven seduces Miss Aubrey and they get married. On her wedding night, Miss Aubrey's guardians find her dead, presumably at the hands of Ruthven.
Lady Mercer
A typical "female hunter of notoriety" among London's upper classes. She unsuccessfully tries to win Ruthven's affections.
Earl of Madsen
When Lord Ruthven reappears, apparently alive and well, following his death, he assumes the name of the Earl of Madsen. Under this guise, he seduces and marries Miss Aubrey.
Lord Byron
One of the leading British romantic poets of the 19th century. Byron is a central figure in the fictional letter extracts that open and close The Vampyre.
Countess of Breuss
A Russian countess who resided in Geneva, Switzerland. The first letter extract indicates that Polidori, Byron's physician, frequented her home during their stay at the Villa Diodati. Polidori gave the text of The Vampyre to the Countess of Breuss, who then passed the novella along to a publisher.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A major English romantic poet mentioned in the novella's first letter extract. Shelly was present at the Villa Diodati when Byron suggested the group participate in a ghost story contest that led to the creation of The Vampyre.
Miss M. W. Godwin
Miss Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. Godwin later married Percy Shelley and took the name of Mary Shelley. She was also present during the 1816 story contest in Geneva that led Polidori to write The Vampyre. As a result of the contest, Godwin wrote the famous novel Frankenstein.
Claire Clairemont
Mary Shelley's sister. Clairemont was a lover of Percey Shelley's and also of Byron's.
Arnold Paul
An apparent vampire in Hungary featured in Polidori's introduction to The Vampyre. According to the introduction, Paul's case is discussed in the London Journal of 1732. He was apparently the victim of a vampire and killed four people in the month following his burial.
Dominick
A wine-trader on the Greek island of Mitylene. In the fictional letter extract that closes The Vampyre, Dominick is Lord Byron's banker and sold him his mansion on the island.
Mr. Foster
A British architect. In the fictional letter extract that closes The Vampyre, Mr. Foster, a student of the renowned English architect Wyatt, informs the letter-writer that the lord whose home they visited is the famous poet Lord Byron.
