Allan Quatermain

Allan Quatermain, an English explorer and sportsman. He agrees to help Sir Henry Curtis find the latter’s lost brother. He is the leader of the expedition to find the brother and, also, Solomon’s treasure.

Sir Henry Curtis

Sir Henry Curtis, Quatermain’s friend and companion on the expedition.

Captain John Good

Captain John Good, a retired army officer, Quatermain’s friend and companion on the expedition.

George Neville

George Neville, Sir Henry Curtis’ brother, who has changed his name. Lost while hunting for King Solomon’s mines, he is found and given one-third of the treasure the expedition discovers.

José Silvestre

José Silvestre, a Portuguese explorer who, as he was dying, gave Quatermain a map showing the location of King Solomon’s mines.

Ventvögel

Ventvögel, a Hottentot hired by Quatermain for the safari. He freezes to death in the mountains during the expedition.

Umbopa

Umbopa, a Zulu hired by Quatermain. He is really Ignosi, hereditary chief of the Kukuana tribe. He regains his rightful place and befriends the white men.

Khiva

Khiva, a Zulu hired by Quatermain. He dies saving Captain Good from an enraged elephant.

Infadoos

Infadoos, a native subchieftain among the Kukuanas who helps Ignosi regain his kingship of the tribe.

Twala

Twala, a hideous one-eyed giant who has usurped the kingship of the Kukuanas. He is killed by Sir Henry during a battle between his forces and the Kukuanas loyal to Ignosi.

Scragga

Scragga, Twala’s cruel son. He is killed with his own spear by Quatermain.

Gagool

Gagool, a native sorceress who murders many of her tribesmen in a witch hunt and tries to kill the white men.

Foulata

Foulata, a beautiful native woman. Saved once by the white men, she is later stabbed to death by Gagool.

King Solomon's Mines is woven together by several profound themes, the most prominent being the battle between good and evil, represented through the heroes' mission to uncover the fate of Sir Henry Curtis's missing brother. Much like the protagonists of ancient legends, Quatermain and his companions must face and overcome challenges posed either by the natural world (such as the relentless heat of the desert or the perilous cold of the mountains) or by malevolent forces, personified by Twala, the usurping king of the Kukuana people, and his grotesque sorceress, Gagool.

Although they may seem somewhat "larger than life," Quatermain, Sir Henry, and Captain Good are more than just symbols of abstract moral values. They are portrayed as genuine human beings caught in extraordinary circumstances. Still, as Captain Good's name suggests, they symbolize the forces of "good" in a struggle against evil. The antagonists are depicted as utterly evil. Twala, his son Scragga, and Gagool lack any redeeming qualities.

The victory over evil comes at a steep cost for the heroes. Throughout their journey, many noble characters meet violent ends, and Twala's brutal treatment of his own people intensifies the atmosphere of menacing violence. The battles between the rival armies for control of the kingdom result in the slaughter of thousands on both sides.

The latter part of the novel is dominated by scenes of carnage. Death pervades the narrative, emerging as a major philosophical theme in the concluding chapters. Despite this grim scenario, Allan finds solace in his belief that "man dies not while the world remains. His name is forgotten, indeed, but the breath he breathed yet stirs the pine tops on the mountains, the sound of the words he spoke yet echoes on through space; the thoughts his brain gave birth to we have inherited today."

Although Allan seemingly...