Omar Khayyam Shakil
Omar is the protagonist of the novel. He is raised by three sisters, one of whom is his biological mother, and grows up on the large estate of Nishapur. As he grows up, they instruct him to live a life without shame. He goes on to lead a very hedonistic life, focused on drinking and sexual relationships. He also pursues a career as a doctor and becomes a successful immunologist. He falls in love with Sufiya Hyder while he is treating and subsequently marries her, becoming part of Iskander and Raza's inner circle.
Iskander Harappa
Iskander is one of the novel's other central characters. Initially depicted as a youthful bachelor, Iskander becomes interested in politics and becomes relentlessly focused on gaining power. He eventually becomes the leader of Pakistan, by utilizing his charisma and gift for political maneuvering. He proves to be a vicious and cruel leader and justifies his violent actions by saying he is the embodiment of the people's will. Iskander's character is believed to be based on former Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
General Raza Hyder
Raza Hyder is a military figure who ultimately takes power from Iskander. He is also one of the novel's main characters. Raza is an even more brutal leader than Iskander who hides his sadistic tendencies beneath a thin guise of politeness. He betrays Iskander and orchestrates his downfall. He is greatly ashamed of his daughter Sufiya.
Sufiya Zinobia Hyder
Sufiya is the daughter of Raza and Rani Hyder. She is given the nickname "shame," as she is a source of shame for both her parents, for very different reasons. Raza is embarrassed by Sufiya's lack of mental maturity, while Rani believes that Sufiya's illness is God's punishment for her infidelity. Sufiya later marries Omar, who falls in love with her while attempting to treat her violent outbursts. It eventually becomes apparent that Sufiya is possessed by a beast that makes her rip men's heads from their bodies. This beast grows from Sufiya absorbing the unprocessed shame in the world around her. When she is not being taken over by this creature, Sufiya is described as being very kind and sweet.
Chhunni, Munnee, and Bunny Shakil
Chhunni, Munnee, and Bunny Shakil are three sisters who raise Omar together. They are described as being constantly together. They keep the identity of Omar's birth mother (and father) a secret. They instruct Omar to live a life that is free of shame, as they believe shame is a dangerous and harmful emotion. They later have another son, named Babar, whose loss they mourn greatly and eventually seek vengeance for.
Rani Harappa
Rani is Iskander's wife. She is described as being intense and fiery. She spends very little time with Iskander after they get married, as he leaves her in his country estate, Mohenjo. She later weaves a number of shawls that depict Iskander's terrible actions to their daughter Arjumand.
Bilquìs Hyder
Bilquìs is Raza's wife. She is traumatized by the death of her father during a bombing at a local cinema. She, like Rani, becomes focused on weaving shrouds. Initially she is depicted as flirtatious and dramatic, but grows more somber as the novel progresses. She is filled with shame about an affair that she had, as she believes it caused Sufiya's mental illness.
Babar Shakil
Babar is Omar's younger brother. He grows up in the shadow of Omar's legacy and grows to resent him. He later joins a rebel militia and fights against Raza Hyder's force. Raza eventually kills Babar for being an insurgent. He is described as passionate and headstrong.
Arjumand Harappa
Arjumand is the daughter of Iskander and Rani. She is given the nickname, "Virgin Ironpants," after rejecting marriage proposals from a number of potential suitors. She holds Iskander in high esteem and shows no awareness of his cruelty. She is determined to attain power and not be restricted by sexism and gender norms. She is based on the historical figure Benazir Bhutto.
Maulana Dawood
Maulana is a close adviser to Raza. He described as being very intense and having very conservative views.
