George Caldwell

George Caldwell is a fifty-year-old general science teacher at Olinger High School. In the mythological realm, he embodies Chiron, the centaur who tutored the gods. Plagued by physical pain and haunted by the fear of death, Caldwell grapples with doubts about the significance of his teaching. Despite his self-doubt, he possesses a profound sensitivity toward the needs and fears of those around him. Over the course of the novel’s three days, George and his son Peter, due to car trouble and a snowstorm, find themselves spending two nights away from home. This experience thrusts them into a world that, while detailed and realistic, resonates with mythic emotional and spiritual depth. His sacrifice, akin to Chiron's, is an attempt to protect the fire-bringer Prometheus, represented by his son, Peter.

Peter Caldwell

Peter Caldwell, at fifteen years old, is George’s son and a high school student at the mythic level associated with Prometheus, the Titan who gifted fire to humanity and suffered severe punishment. Chiron, as his father George, accepted death in exchange for Prometheus’ freedom. Peter struggles with psoriasis, inherited from his mother, and is deeply concerned about his father’s health. He also faces the challenges of understanding his emerging sexuality and his relationship with his community. A gifted art student, Peter contrasts the mundane bleakness of Olinger with the glamorous allure of New York City. Ironically, when the story is recounted fourteen years later, Peter has become an abstract expressionist painter in New York, his life with his black lover seemingly lacking the metaphorical richness he recalls from his adolescence.

Catherine (Cassie) Caldwell

Catherine (Cassie) Caldwell, George’s wife and Peter’s mother, is symbolically linked to the goddess Ceres. No longer a young beauty, she oscillates between sharpness and tenderness in her interactions with George, Peter, and her father, who resides with them. Cassie finds her greatest joy in nature, and her insistence on living in a rural Firetown farmhouse necessitates the daily eleven-mile drive to Olinger High School, ultimately setting the stage for the novel’s events. Her fierce attachment to the land and fertility connects her deeply to Ceres' mythology.

Pop Kramer

Pop Kramer, Cassie’s father, is paralleled with Kronos, the dethroned Titan. His penchant for aphorisms presents a stark contrast to George Caldwell’s thoughtful skepticism. Pop's character is further enriched by his associations with clocks and time, deepening his mythological connection.

Al Hummel

Al Hummel, a proficient mechanic and owner of a local garage, is Cassie’s cousin and represents Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. His hunched and limping physique is a testament to a childhood accident and reflects his disillusionment with the postwar economy and his sorrow in his childless marriage to Vera, who is known for her infidelities. Hummel, a supportive friend to George, facilitated his teaching position in Olinger. During the second night when George and Peter are stranded, they seek refuge at Hummel’s house. The following day, Hummel aids them in digging their snowbound car out, facilitating their return to Firetown.

Vera Hummel

Vera Hummel, Al’s wife and the girls’ basketball coach, is mythologically connected to Venus, the goddess of love. She is strikingly beautiful with amber hair and golden skin. Her laughter serves as both an expression of joy and a solace for the sorrow in her marriage to Al and the broader mockery of sexual desire. Through her interactions with George and Peter, she plays a crucial role in Peter’s sexual awakening and understanding of his father. On the morning following the snowstorm, Vera offers Peter breakfast and conversation, providing him with moments of relief from his lingering fears.

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