A Tallis family servant.

At the beginning of the novel, they serve as a foil to Briony’s goal of putting on a play. However, Briony becomes close with them as they grow older.

Cecilia's and Briony's relative. He is known as an easygoing optimist who is likely to only see the best in people.

.... often absent from the Tallis house, carrying on affairs in London under the guise of his work as an important government bureaucrat.

the father of Briony and Cecilia. He is a stern and rigid man, with a military background, who struggles to connect emotionally with his family.

... is the older cousin of Briony and Cecilia.

He is intelligent, ambitious, and deeply in love with Cecilia.

... pays for Robbie’s education and supported Robbie’s mother when Robbie’s father left, showing he is usually kind and generous.

the novel's protagonist, a young and imaginative girl from an upper-class English family.

Lola’s nine-year-old twin brothers who are traumatized by their parents’ divorce.

Robbie's mother and the Tallis family's housekeeper.

.... has frequent migraines and is often unable to perform any parental duties, leaving them to Cecilia.