Louise Mallard: The protagonist of the story who learns of her husband's death

and experiences conflicting emotions, including initial sorrow followed by a sense

of freedom and liberation. She dies of a heart attack upon seeing her husband
alive.
Brently Mallard: Louise's husband who is believed to have died in a railroad
accident. He unexpectedly returns home, unaware of the news of his supposed
death.
Josephine: Louise's sister who informs her of her husband's death and attempts to
comfort her during her time of grief.
Richard: Brently Mallard's friend who confirms the news of Brently's death to
Louise and assists in breaking the news to her.

The Narrator: The protagonist and unreliable narrator of the story. He begins as
an animal lover but becomes increasingly violent and abusive under the influence
of alcohol and guilt. He murders his wife and attempts to kill their black cat, Pluto.
Pluto: The narrator's black cat and companion. Initially beloved by the narrator,
Pluto becomes a source of fear and loathing after the narrator's descent into
alcoholism and madness. The narrator eventually hangs Pluto from a tree.
The Narrator's Wife: The narrator's wife, who tries to intervene and prevent him
from harming Pluto. She becomes a victim of the narrator's violence and is killed
by him.
Second Black Cat: A second black cat that resembles Pluto but with a white spot
on its chest. It appears after Pluto's death and begins to torment the narrator. The
narrator eventually kills this cat as well, sealing it behind a wall in the cellar.
Police Officers: The authorities who investigate the disappearance of the
narrator's wife. They discover her body hidden behind the wall, leading to the
narrator's arrest and confession of his crimes.