Eleanor Bold
The wealthy widow of John Bold is the object of affection by three different men: Mr. Slope, Bertie Stanhope and Mr. Arabin. Slope would appear to have the inside track. But perhaps appearances are deceiving.
Dr. Thomas Proudie
The appointment of Dr. Proudie to the position of bishop of Barsetshire essentially is the catalyst for everything that happens afterward. Ironically, he is himself very meek and dominated by his wife who works in tandem with Rev. Slope to manipulate his position in battle over liberalizing the church.
Mrs. Proudie
A stout defender and aggressive champion of the evangelical and Low Church movement. She manipulates her husband into taking advantage of his position to award patronage to like-minded believers. The primary conflict of the novel arises over her opposition by the established Barchester church community.
Bishop Grantly
It is the death of the long-serving and much-loved old Bishop of Barchester at the beginning of the novel that prompts the appointment of Proudie.
Rev. Obadiah Slope
The chaplain who is in league with Mrs. Proudie until his pursuit of Eleanor Bold urges him to take the side of Mr. Harding. At this point, the Bishop’s wife turns on him.
Rev. Septimus Harding
In addition to being a minister, he is also the warden of Hiram’s Hospital almshouse. Highly principled and trusted, he falls under suspicion of tinkering with incoming charity donations. His principles reign high when he becomes convinced that more funds are arriving then his morality will let stand and so he resigns. In the larger scale of thing, Harding is merely a pawn in the game of chess playing out between the old guard and the evangelicals.
Ethelbert "Bertie" Stanhope
Good looking, aesthetic wooer of Eleanor Bold. His attempts to woo Eleanor is mostly in pursuit of her wealth as he is also an idler content to sponge off the fortunes of the more fortunate.
Rev Francis Arabin
Scholarly clergyman brought in by Archdeacon Grantly as a comrade in his battle against Bishop Proudie and Mr. Slope. Ultimately marries Eleanor Harding Bold and becomes Dean of Barchester
La Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni
Though crippled and bedridden (sofa-ridden to be more precise), the dark, striking beauty of Madeline makes her a magnet for men. Almost something of a black widow, she spins a web to entrap Rev. Slope and thus initiates his exit from Barchester back to London in humiliation.
