| A | B |
|---|
| Tommy Hinds | Hotelkeeper who hires Jurgis; also a Socialist organizer |
| The Widow Jukiene | Jurgis' first landlady; rents filthy apartments |
| Jack Duane | Meets in Jurgis in prison, introduces him to the world of crime |
| Tamoszius Kuszleika | Violin player; in love with Marija at one time |
| Dede Antanas | Eldest member of the family; dies from work related illness |
| Mike Scully | Democratic leader; represents corrupt Capitalist politics |
| Marija Berczynskas | Ona's cousin; becomes a prostitute addicted to morphine |
| Ona Lukoszaite | Married Jurgis; does not survive America |
| Phil Connor | Forces Ona to sleep with him then fires her family members |
| Jurgis Rudkus | Protagonist; finds salvation in Socialism |
| Little Antanas | Son of Jurgis and Ona; drowns in the street |
| Freddie Jones | Drunken rich man who feeds Jurgis and gives him a $100 dollar bill |
| Stanislovas | 12 year old member of the family who works 16 hour days |
| Lithuania | Where the main characters emigrate from |
| Packingtown | Area of Chicago Jurgis' family settle in |
