a good-natured, teasing, and lazy lad who supplies much of the humor in the story.

The Reverend Michael Millward

The Reverend Michael Millward, a tall, ponderous, elderly gentleman of fixed principles, strong prejudices, and regular habits. Because he is intolerant of dissent of any kind and believes that his opinions are always right, he chides Helen Graham for not attending church. He readily believes the stories told about her and attempts to lecture her on her conduct. He is practically turned away from Wildfell Hall for his pains.

Eliza Millward

Eliza Millward, the vicar’s younger daughter, a plump, charming young woman in love with Gilbert Markham. Like a pretty, playful kitten, she is sometimes roguish, sometimes timid and demure. She is responsible for many of the tales told about Helen Graham because she sees in her a rival for Gilbert’s hand.

Mary Millward

Mary Millward, her sister, several years older, a plain, quiet young woman of warmer disposition than her sister. She has been the family housekeeper and drudge all her life. Gilbert Markham remarks that she is “loved and courted by all the dogs and cats but slighted and neglected by everybody else.”

Mrs. Wilson

Mrs. Wilson, a narrow-minded, tattling village gossip whose garrulous nature causes her to spread tales about Mrs. Graham.

Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson, her older son, a rough, countrified bumpkin.

Richard Wilson

Richard Wilson, her younger son, a retiring and studious young man. With the vicar’s assistance, he studies the classics in preparation for college. He plans to enter the church.

Jane Wilson

Jane Wilson, their sister. She has a boarding school education and elegant manners, but her social ambitions will allow her to take only a gentleman for a husband. She has her eye on Frederick Lawrence, the young squire who formerly occupied Wildfell Hall.

Rachel

Rachel, Helen Graham’s servant and devoted companion. Aware of her mistress’ situation at Wildfell Hall, she is cold and suspicious of their neighbors.

Arthur Huntingdon

Arthur Huntingdon, called Arthur Graham, Helen’s fun-loving, affectionate small son. Greatly attracted to Gilbert Markham, he serves to introduce that gentleman and his mother.

Mr. Boarham

Mr. Boarham, a fashionable young gentleman and Helen’s suitor before her marriage to Arthur Huntingdon. Reflecting his name, Boarham is a boring person, and in spite of her aunt’s approval, Helen cannot tolerate him.

Mr. Wilmot

Mr. Wilmot, a wealthy old man who pursues Helen. He is greatly surprised by her refusal of his hand.

Annabella

Annabella, Mr. Wilmot’s niece, a dashing young woman who seems too much of a flirt ever to marry. She does marry Lord Lowborough, however, but carries on affairs afterward, including a serious one with Arthur Huntingdon.

Lord Lowborough

Lord Lowborough, Arthur Huntingdon’s friend, a sober, tall, and thin gentleman with a sickly, careworn aspect. Through his marriage to Annabella, he hopes to acquire some peace in life, but he fails to do so because of her waywardness.

Millicent Hargrave

Millicent Hargrave, Annabella’s cousin and Helen’s good friend. After Millicent’s unfortunate marriage to Mr. Hattersley, she endures the same sort of life that Helen does, having to put up with the drinking bouts and wild conduct of her husband. Her life becomes more comfortable after Mr. Hattersley, observing the fate of Arthur Huntingdon, reforms and becomes a gentle and devoted husband.

Mr. Hattersley

Mr. Hattersley, Millicent’s wild husband and Arthur Huntingdon’s companion on excursions to London. During the early years of their marriage, he browbeats and torments his wife, but eventually he changes for the better.

Walter Hargrave

Walter Hargrave, Millicent’s brother. Enamored of Helen, he pursues her with offers of protection and marriage during her unhappy life with Arthur Huntingdon. Although he belongs to the London drinking, gaming, and hunting set, he is less boisterous and more temperate than the others.

Benson

Benson, the Huntingdon butler. Devoted to Helen, he helps her to escape from Grasslands.

Miss Myers

Miss Myers, a sullen young woman hired by Arthur Huntingdon as a governess for his son when he decides to separate his wife from her child.

Mr. Halford

Mr. Halford, Gilbert Markham’s brother-in-law at a later date, to whom Gilbert writes the letters that tell the story of Helen Graham and his own romance with the tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Benson
Benson serves as a servant at Grassdale Manor, assisting Helen, Arthur, and Rachel in escaping from Mr. Huntington.

Mr. Boarham
Mr. Boarham is a friend of Mrs. Maxwell and one of Helen’s suitors. Helen, however, rejects his marriage proposal because she finds him repulsive.

Master Arthur Graham
See Master Arthur Huntington.

Mrs. Helen GrahamSee Mrs. Helen Huntington.

Mr. Grimsby
Mr. Grimsby is a friend of Mr. Huntington. He has a lifestyle centered around drinking, hunting, and gambling. Unlike Huntington’s other friends, he remains unmarried and eventually dies in a barroom brawl.

Mr. Jack Halford Esq.
Jack Halford is Rose’s husband and a friend of Gilbert. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is structured as a series of letters from Gilbert to Halford.

Miss Esther Hargrave
Esther, the youngest Hargrave sibling, is a close friend of Helen. She is attractive and lively but faces pressure from her mother and brother to marry quickly. Instead, she heeds Helen’s advice: “When I tell you not to marry without love, I do not advise you to marry for love alone—there are many, many other things to be considered.” By the end of the novel, she marries Helen’s brother, Mr. Lawrence.

Miss Milicent HargraveSee Mrs. Milicent Hattersley.

Mrs. Hargrave
Mrs. Hargrave is the mother of Walter, Milicent, and Esther. She is frugal and pressures her daughters to marry wealthy men while excessively doting on her son.

Mr. Walter Hargrave
Walter Hargrave is the older brother of Milicent and Esther. Although spoiled, he is more gentlemanly than his friends Huntington, Hattersley, and Grimsby. He falls in love with Helen, but his affection is self-centered, which irritates her. Eventually, he marries a plain but wealthy woman who becomes disillusioned with him once his charm fades, revealing his selfish and careless character.

Miss Helen Hattersley
Helen is the first child of Milicent and Ralph Hattersley, born a few months after Helen’s son Arthur.

Mrs. Milicent Hattersley
Milicent Hattersley is Annabella’s cousin and a friend of Helen. Her gentle and accommodating nature catches the attention of the roguish Mr. Hattersley, who insists on making her his fiancée almost against her will. Much like Helen, she is unhappy in her marriage for several years, enduring frequent physical and verbal abuse. Despite this, she believes he is a good man who will eventually change. When he does, they find happiness together and have several children.

Master Ralph Hattersley
Ralph is the second child of Milicent and Ralph Hattersley.

Mr. Ralph Hattersley Esq.
Mr. Hattersley is a close friend of Mr. Huntington. During the initial years of his marriage, Hattersley maintains a reckless lifestyle. However, witnessing Huntington’s declining health prompts him to change his ways. He begins to focus on his wife and family, avoiding trips to London for partying. Instead, he stays occupied at his country estate with farming, breeding livestock, and hunting. Hattersley, his wife Milicent, and their children live contentedly from then on.

Master Arthur Huntington
The son of Helen and Arthur Huntington, Master Arthur Huntington is a joyful young boy who unknowingly helps bring his mother and Gilbert together.

Mr. Arthur Huntington
Arthur Huntington, Helen’s husband, is attractive and charismatic but also irresponsible and self-centered. He frequently indulges in excessive drinking and gambling and engages in multiple affairs, including with Annabella Lowborough and Miss Myers. Frustrated by Helen’s attempts to reform him, he spends several months each year in London or abroad without his wife or son. He shows no interest in his son Arthur, except for feeling jealous of the attention Helen gives the child. Even as he faces death at the novel’s end, Huntington remains childish and fearful, unable to find comfort in religion. Brontë portrays Huntington as an unmanly gentleman.

Mrs. Helen Huntington
The protagonist of Brontë’s novel, Mrs. Helen Huntington bravely leaves her corrupt husband to protect her son from his father’s influence. Helen is deeply religious and highly moral. As a young wife, she naively believes she can reform Huntington’s wayward lifestyle and that he will embrace the change. When their marriage deteriorates, Helen remains in the house because Huntington refuses to let her leave. She rejects the advances of Mr. Hargrave and Gilbert because she is still married. Hargrave’s persistence offends her, but turning down Gilbert is harder because she reciprocates his feelings. Nevertheless, her devotion to her marriage vows prevents her from betraying them.

Helen has a passion for literature, an interest she shares with Gilbert. She also loves writing in her diary, documenting events in great detail, which allows for the first-person narrative in half of the novel. However, Helen has one significant flaw: her infallibility. Brontë has made Helen too perfect. Even Gilbert, another central character, does not fully evoke sympathy due to his actions. This excessive perfection makes it seem like Helen is more often acted upon by events than actively shaping them.

Mrs. Esther LawrenceSee Miss Esther Hargrave

Mr. Frederick Lawrence
Frederick Lawrence is Helen’s brother and lives next door to Gilbert. Despite their strained relationship, Gilbert eventually understands Lawrence’s true connection to Helen. Gilbert advises Lawrence against marrying Jane Wilson, knowing that Jane despises Helen and her charm is superficial. Although Lawrence is initially offended, he heeds Gilbert’s warning. Lawrence disapproves of Gilbert’s feelings for Helen and even tries to hinder their relationship after Helen departs Wildfell Hall. By the novel's conclusion, Lawrence marries Esther Hargrave, Helen’s attractive young neighbor.

Lady Annabella Lowborough
Annabella, Milicent’s lively and attractive cousin, weds Lord Lowborough after Helen becomes engaged to Mr. Huntington. Annabella and Huntington later engage in an affair. Despite her allure, Annabella is ruthless and unkind to Helen, whom she sees as a rival. Lord Lowborough is heartbroken upon discovering the affair and separates from Annabella, taking their children with him. Annabella eventually elopes with another man and relocates to the continent, leading to her divorce. Her new partner abandons her as well. She continues to live lavishly but ultimately dies in disgrace and poverty.

Lord Lowborough
Lord Lowborough, a friend of Huntington, quits drinking and gambling due to his inability to do so in moderation. He is reserved and often melancholic but genuinely desires a loving wife. He marries Annabella Wilmot but discovers her infidelity after a few years. They part ways, and he takes custody of their son and daughter. Lowborough divorces Annabella when she elopes to the continent with another man. He later marries a dependable older woman who looks after him and his children, and they live happily for the remainder of their lives.

Mr. Fergus Markham
Fergus Markham, Gilbert’s younger brother, is likely a teenager during the story and often behaves insensitively. He matures over time, eventually inheriting the family farm from Gilbert and marrying a vicar’s daughter.

Mr. Gilbert Markham
Gilbert Markham is the narrator of this novel, sharing the tale through letters to his friend and brother-in-law, Halford. As a gentleman farmer, he manages his family's business in place of his father, who is either absent or deceased. Gilbert enjoys reading and engaging in intellectual conversations, which inevitably draws him to his enigmatic new neighbor, the widow Helen Graham. He falls in love with her, and despite sensing that she is not interested in a romantic relationship, he cannot help but confess his feelings. Mistaking Mr. Lawrence for a rival suitor, Gilbert becomes intensely jealous and strikes him with a near-fatal blow. This incident marks a turning point for Gilbert, who gradually learns to control his emotions. Helen reciprocates his feelings but reveals that she is still married, preventing them from acting on their love. During their eighteen-month separation, Gilbert undergoes a subtle transformation. His love for Helen deepens and matures, losing its desperation but not its intensity. He also forms a challenging friendship with Mr. Lawrence and becomes acutely aware of the social differences between him and Helen, as she is significantly wealthier. When they are finally reunited, these differences no longer matter. Critics have often described Gilbert's character as problematic, finding him somewhat unlikable and perhaps undeserving of Helen's love. These inconsistencies can be understood through Brontë’s realistic narrative style.

Mrs. Markham
Mrs. Markham is the mother of Gilbert, Rose, and Fergus Markham. She tends to follow the prevailing opinions of the neighborhood, including the widespread suspicion of Helen.

Miss Rose Markham
Rose Markham is the middle child of the Markham family. She is a typical young woman who enjoys gossiping with her neighbors. Rose eventually marries Jack Halford, to whom the novel's narrative is addressed.

Mrs. Margaret Maxwell
Mrs. Margaret Maxwell, Helen’s aunt and the only maternal figure in her life, emphasizes the importance of choosing a good husband to Helen.

Mr. Maxwell
Mr. Maxwell, Helen’s uncle, bequeaths his entire estate of Staningley to her upon his death, making Helen a wealthy woman.

Miss Eliza Millward
Eliza Millward, the vicar’s younger daughter, is lively yet superficial. She conspires with Jane Wilson to spread malicious rumors about Helen after Gilbert rejects her. She later marries a wealthy tradesman.

Miss Mary Millward
Mary Millward, the vicar’s older daughter, is a quiet and reserved individual. She, along with Gilbert, refuses to believe the rumors about Helen. Mary is secretly engaged to Richard Wilson.

Reverend Michael Millward
Reverend Millward, the local vicar, is a well-meaning but meddlesome person. Upon retiring, he passes his position to his curate and son-in-law, Richard Wilson.

Miss Alice Myers
Miss Myers, employed by Huntington as a governess, is intended to create a rift between Helen and her son. Brontë hints at a possible romantic involvement between Miss Myers and Huntington. When Huntington falls seriously ill, Miss Myers deserts him.

Rachel
Rachel, Helen’s lifelong nurse, has been caring for her since childhood. She decides to leave Grassdale Manor with Helen to avoid being tormented by Mr. Huntington.

Miss Annabella WilmotSee Mrs. Annabella Lowborough

Mr. Wilmot
Mr. Wilmot, a friend of Mr. Maxwell and Annabella’s uncle, is among the older men who court Helen. He remains unaware of her lack of interest, which greatly annoys Helen.

Miss Jane Wilson
Jane Wilson, the only daughter of Mrs. Wilson, is attractive and skilled at playing the piano. However, she can also be narrow-minded and disagreeable. She attempts to marry Mr. Lawrence for his wealth, but Gilbert thwarts her plans by warning him. Jane never finds another wealthy suitor and spends her life as a gossipy spinster.

Mrs. Wilson
Mrs. Wilson is the mother of Robert, Jane, and Richard. Her eldest son, Robert, oversees their home, Ryecote Farm. They live near the Markhams and the Millwards.

Mr. Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson, the younger son of Mrs. Wilson, is quiet and scholarly. He graduates from Cambridge and is secretly engaged to Mary Millward. They marry when he becomes curate to Reverend Millward, and Richard eventually succeeds him as vicar.

Mr. Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson, the elder son of Mrs. Wilson, manages the family estate, Ryecote Farm.