MAIN CHARACTERS
ARTHUR CLENNAM: son of Mrs. Clennam who takes an interest in Little Dorrit
MR. WILLIAM DORRIT: a proud man who becomes the Father of the Marshalsea
JEREMIAH FLINTWINCH: servant and partner of Mrs. Clennam's
HENRY GOWAN: an untalented artist tied to the Barnacle family
MR. MEAGLES: a kindly retired banker
MR. MERDLE: a well-respected man whose wealthy, though nobody knows how
MR. PANCKS: a rent collector for Mr. Casby
RIGAUD (ALSO KNOWN AS LAGNIER AND LATER BLANDOIS): a former prisoner of Marseilles and a murderer
MRS. CLENNAM: Arthur's difficult mother
AMY DORRIT (KNOWN AS LITTLE DORRIT): the youngest child of Mr. Dorrit, born at the Marshalsea
FANNY DORRIT (LATER KNOWN AS MRS. SPARKLER): Amy's proud elder sister
FLORA FINCHING: Arthur's former love, daughter of Mr. Casby
MRS. AFFERY FLINTWINCH: Jeremiah's wife, who believes she is passing through life dreaming
MRS. MEAGLES: Mr. Meagles' wife
MINNIE MEAGLES (NICKNAMED PET AND LATER KNOWN AS MRS. GOWAN): The daughter of the Meagles and Henry Gowan's wife
MISS WADE: a sullen woman of mystery
MR. FREDERICK DORRIT: William's brother who is a musician and considered feeble-minded
DANIEL DOYCE: an inventor, friend of the Meagles, and partner to Arthur Clennam
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
CLARENCE BARNACLE: the son of Tite Barnacle who works at the Circumlocution Office
LORD DECIMUS BARNACLE: highly placed official of the Circumlocution Office
FERDINAND BARNACLE: private secretary of Lord Decimus, a good-natured fellow
TITE BARNACLE: a high official of the Circumlocution Office
BOB: turnkey of the Marshalsea Prison and godfather to Little Dorrit
CHRISTOPHER CASBY (KNOWN AS THE PATRIARCH): landlord of the Bleeding Heart Yard who has a reputation for benevolence
JOHN BAPTIST CAVALLETO: a fellow prisoner of Rigaud's at Marseilles
JOHN CHIVERY: a non-resident turnkey at the Marshalsea
YOUNG JOHN CHIVERY: John Chivery's son, later a turnkey, who loves Little Dorrit
EDWARD DORRIT (NICKNAMED TIP): the idle son of William Dorrit
JOHN EDWARD NANDY: a man that lives in a workhouse
MR. PLORNISH: one of Mr. Casby's tenants that helps Little Dorrit
MRS. PLORNISH: Mr. Plornish's wife, the daughter of Mr. Nandy
MR. RUGG: a lawyer and agent
MR. EDMUND SPARKLER: dim-witted son of Mrs. Merdle from her first marriage and husband to Fanny Dorrit
MRS. MERDLE: an admired woman of society who is fashionable and well bred
BAR: a lawyer friend of Mr. Merdle's
PHYSICIAN: a friend of Mr. Merdle's
BISHOP: a friend of Mr. Merdle's
TINKLER: Mr. Dorrit's valet, whom he distrusts
MRS. BANGHAM: a charwoman of the Marhsalsea who nurses Mrs. Dorrit
HARRIET BEADLE (CALLED TATTYCORAM): an orphan girl the Meagles adopted that is very passionate
MRS. CHIVERY: wife of John Chivery Sr. and owner of a tobacco shop
MR. F'S AUNT: a difficult old lady that Flora takes care of who is the aunt of her late husband
MRS. GENERAL: a widowed lady hired to coach the Dorrit girls into becoming ladies
MRS. GOWAN: Henry's mother
MAGGY: a retarded girl that Little Dorrit helps
ANASTATIA RUGG: daughter of Mr. Rugg
MRS. TICKIT: cook and housekeeper of the Meagles