Pinkie Brown
Pinkie is the central villain in Graham Greene's Brighton Rock. Pinkie is presented as a deeply troubled character. He displays an unnatural aversion to love and sex as a result of witnessing his parents having sex as a child; he inherently suffers from his own failure to achieve his aspirations because he is trapped in his hometown, the poverty-stricken Nelson Place. Pinkie retains a religious belief in morality, viewing the world in terms of 'good vs evil' in contrast to Ida's perception of societal 'right vs wrong'. Despite his religious, Catholic beliefs, Pinkie continues to commit mortal sins and does not seem to consider the possibility of heaven; he simply believes in hell, and this is reinforced by Greene's use of recurring hellish imagery of the sea. This is a key factor to Pinkie's character and it is something Greene has purposefully done to further convey the idea that Pinkie may be almost like the Anti-Christ, or the devil.
Pinkie's male role model was a criminal gang leader named Kite, who was murdered prior to the opening of the novel - this perhaps offers additional explanation for Pinkie's decision to pursue a criminal lifestyle. Greene uses a motif of "the stirrup and the ground" throughout the book to demonstrate Pinkie's numerous opportunities to change; however, Pinkie rejects them all and ultimately dies at the end of the novel. On the other hand, it may be interpreted that Pinkie does not simply reject chances for change, but rather that he is forced to continue as a criminal as he is trapped by his own background and lifestyle. Greene consistently refers to Pinkie as "the Boy," which reflects his youthful immaturity and vulnerability.
Ida Arnold
Ida acts as an ambiguous detective figure in the novel, representing the force of justice as she pursues Hale's killer and attempts to warn Rose of Pinkie's manipulations. Greene creates a stark contrast between the characters of Ida and Pinkie; Ida represents everything that Pinkie hates. Ida represents life itself (as implicated through Hale's narration, "it was as if I was looking at life itself in the public bar"): she exhibits a clear lack of religious morality as she believes in "right and wrong" and regularly engages in extra-marital affairs, something religiously perceived as a sin.
Greene presents Ida in a sensual and motherly manner, suggesting that she is a wiser and more experienced figure who seeks to take care of others. Considering that the novel was published in 1938, a time in which women were not seen as anything more than housewives and often seen as sexual objects for men, it could be seen as a surprise to see a woman presented in the way Ida is. It could be argued that Ida could be a role model to women at the time this book was published: in 1938, the second wave of feminism would have been happening soon, so if any women found the time to read this book, Ida may have been a character that inspired them to participate in the second wave of feminism and fight for women's right to work, not long after WW2.
Rose
Rose is a naive, easily manipulated young girl who is distinctly victimized by Pinkie in Brighton Rock. Rose and Pinkie evidently share some of the same qualities: they share the same Catholic beliefs and grew up in the same impoverished area, Nelson Place. Rose in particular is clearly characterized by her poverty-stricken background, at one point being described as "the Nelson Place eyes." Rose offers Pinkie a chance for a different lifestyle; however, Pinkie rejects this, instead continuing to manipulate her until he inevitably dies. Pinkie manipulates Rose into marriage, and by the end of the novel, Rose is left pregnant and widowed, the main victim of the novel.
Unlike Ida, Rose is presented as the typical woman. The fact that she is so easily manipulated into marrying Pinkie could connote that a lot of women at the same time the novel was written/published were actually manipulated into marriage, or even that they married just because they felt like their role was to marry a man, have children with him, and be the housewife. Rose is a symbol of pretty much all women at that time in history.
Kite
The original leader of Pinkie's gang, murdered by Colleoni's gang before the novel's events.
Charles Hale
Reporter for the Daily Messenger who played the role of "Kolley Kibber" distributing cards and prizes in Brighton at the beginning of the story. He is murdered by Pinkie, but not before he meets Ida Arnold.
Colleoni
Mob leader; rival of Pinkie's.
Cubitt
Member of Pinkie's gang.
Spicer
Member of Pinkie's gang who planted a card at Snow's and was remembered by Rose. Pinkie kills Spicer because he knows the latter knows he killed Hale.
Dallow
Member of Pinkie's gang; the only one whom Pinkie still trusts.
Judy
Wife of Frank; lover of Dallow.
Frank
Blind man who lives in the same house as Dallow and Pinkie.
