Character List
Stage Manager The narrator, who also plays the roles of master of ceremonies, Mrs. Forrest, Mr. Morgan, and a minister. He guides Emily in her return to the living world.
Dr. Frank Gibbs The town's doctor, who is returning from delivering the Goruslawski twins during the first act. He is the father of George and Rebecca Gibbs.
Mrs. Julia Hersey Gibbs Dr. Gibbs' wife, who represents a typical housewife in the first two acts; in the final act, she is seen as a spirit.
George Gibbs Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs' sixteen-year-old son, who discovers his love for Emily, marries her in the second act, and grieves for her loss in the third act.
Rebecca Gibbs Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs' daughter, who is four years younger than George. She realizes that Grover's Corners is part of New Hampshire, part of America, part of the world, the universe. This expanding image is central to Wilder's theme.
Mr. Charles Webb The editor and publisher of the Sentinel, the town's newspaper, and one of its most important citizens. He lives across from the Gibbs family.
Mrs. Myrtle Webb Charles Webb's wife, who reveals her character through her conversation with Mrs. Gibbs; she represents the typical mother and housewife.
Emily Webb Gibbs The Webbs' intelligent daughter, who grows up during the play, joins the two major families when she marries George Gibbs, and dies later during childbirth.
Wallace "Wally" Webb Emily's younger brother and one of the spirits in the last act. In Act III, we discover that he died suddenly from a ruptured appendix while on a Boy Scout trip.
Simon Simson The organist of the Congregational Church who is the subject of town gossip because of his alcoholism. As a suicide who hangs himself in the attic, Simon's memories of the past are negative.
Mrs. Louella Soames A local busybody who clucks over Simon's alcoholism and idealizes George and Emily's marriage. She is a spirit in the last act.
Howie Newsome The milkman who guides a seventeen-year-old horse named Bessie. Howie appears during Emily's return to the past in the last act.
Joe Crowell, Jr. Joe is the paper boy in the first act and also during the flashback, when Emily returns to life. A scholar at Massachusetts Tech, he is killed in France during World War I before he can use his education.
Si Crowell Joe's younger brother, who takes Joe's job as paper boy in Act II to indicate the passage of time.
Samuel "Sam" Craig The son of Julia Gibbs' sister Carey, he comes back from Buffalo after twelve years' absence. He provides exposition in the last act.
Joe Stoddard The town undertaker, who provides background information in the third act.
Constable Bill Warren The town law enforcement officer, whose duties require him to be sure that doors are locked and that drain pipes are adequate. On February 7, 1899, he saves a man from freezing to death.
Professor Willard A faculty member of State University who recites facts about Grover's Corners.