Lewis Hale

Lewis Hale, an Iowa farmer and neighbor to the Wrights, is called upon the day after John Wright's murder to participate in the investigation as a witness. He recounts to the police how he discovered the body in the upstairs bedroom and describes Minnie’s odd behavior that day. Through his account, both the reader and other characters gain insight into Minnie’s state of mind following the murder. Often verbose in his storytelling, his wife frequently worries he might not relay the events accurately. Along with the other male characters, Mr. Hale searches for clues in obvious places but overlooks significant evidence in the kitchen.

Martha Hale

Martha Hale is the only character present throughout the entire story. The narrator follows her from her own kitchen to the Wrights' kitchen. While waiting for the detective to investigate the premises, she conducts her own examination of the scene. Instead of scrutinizing Minnie Wright's home with a critical eye, Mrs. Hale observes it with the sympathetic understanding of a fellow farm wife. Having known Minnie for over twenty years, she provides background on Minnie’s life before and after marriage. She embodies loyalty and female solidarity by hiding evidence that could implicate Minnie in her husband's death.

George Henderson

George Henderson is the young county lawyer determined to prosecute Minnie Wright for her husband's murder. As part of the investigative team, he asks questions and takes notes. His sarcastic remarks about the women's focus on minor domestic details irritate them and reveal his narrow-mindedness.

Henry Peters

As a lawman, the sheriff's primary objective is to convict John Wright’s murderer. He is depicted as the quintessential sheriff—heavyset and loud-voiced. He firmly believes that he and his team of men can solve the crime without the women’s assistance. He dismisses the women’s observations as trivial and a waste of time.

Mrs. Peters

Mrs. Peters's first name is never mentioned in the story. She is the sheriff’s wife, and the county prosecutor reminds her that she is “married to the law.” Initially, she tries to dissuade Mrs. Hale from jumping to conclusions and tampering with the evidence they find in the kitchen. However, her female intuition later leads her to forgive Minnie for her possible crime, and she helps Mrs. Hale conceal evidence. For most of the story, she is torn between siding with the men, who seek to prosecute Minnie, and Mrs. Hale, who empathizes with Minnie’s situation. Her decision is crucial in determining whether or not to “convict” Minnie.

John Wright

John Wright is Minnie’s husband, and his murder initiates the story's events. Although he never appears in the narrative, and thus cannot defend himself, he is depicted by both the men and women as a selfish, cold, and unsociable individual who neglected his wife’s needs and opinions. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters suspect that he strangled Minnie’s canary, which they discover hidden in her sewing basket. Given that Mr. Wright was strangled, the women theorize that Minnie killed him as revenge for the death of her pet bird.

Minnie Wright

Minnie Wright is the primary suspect in her husband’s murder, but she does not appear in the story either. Consequently, she cannot speak for herself, and the reader learns about her only through Mrs. Hale’s comments and the “clues” left in the kitchen that reveal her lifestyle and state of mind at the time of the murder. Mrs. Hale reminisces about Minnie Foster, the vibrant and pretty young woman who dressed well and sang in the church choir before marrying John Wright. Mr. Hale’s description of Mrs. Wright after the murder portrays her as a “queer” woman, rocking in her chair while her husband’s body lay upstairs.