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Eben Cabot
The youngest son of Ephraim Cabot, half-brother of Simeon and Peter, and the main protagonist. Twenty-five, tall, and handsome, Eben is resentful and defensive, especially towards his father, whom he thinks drove his mother to an early death. Loyal to his mother's memory and estranged from his brothers, his main focus is holding onto the farm, which he believes rightly belongs to him. He is young and lustful and feels trapped by his current circumstances.
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Ephraim Cabot
Father of three sons, owner of the farm that he has worked on his whole life, and the main antagonist. He is seventy-five years old, tall and wiry, and strong for his age but stooped from work. He has a gruff personality and is disdainful of anyone who appears weak. He shows no love for his sons but does demonstrate love for his new wife, Abbie. He is self-centered and arrogant but also lonely, and he believes that life is unrelentingly hard and no one understands him.
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Abbie Putnam
Ephraim’s third wife. Abbie is brimming with emotion and energy, and she has a cunning and determined personality. She and Eben share a restlessness and a desperate desire to attain a better life. They are both focused on owning the farm and house. Abbie is sensual and able to charm men but also has the desire to please and be loved, which can surpass her independent and determined spirit. Abbie acts as a foil to both Eben and Cabot.
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Simeon and Peter Cabot
Ephraim's older sons. Simeon is thirty-nine and Peter is thirty-seven. Both are simple men who haved and worked on the family farm all their lives. They don't get along well with Eben but share a dislike for their father with him. Physically, they're squarer and shorter than Eben or their father. They dream of going to California to join the gold rush.
The Fiddler
A local townsman playing music for a party at the farmhouse. He's young and tall, with a sly and mischievous personality.
The Sheriff
The town's local sheriff.
