Bayou

A young Yankee architect who travels to New Orleans to compete for a civic auditorium project. He becomes involved with Marie and stays to pursue her, navigating local rivalries and cultural differences. His idealism and romantic resolve drive much of the plot, even as he faces danger from Ulysses.

A sadistic, illiterate bully who resents Martin's interest in Marie and uses threats and violence to exert control. His domineering presence fuels the conflict and highlights the town's underside of power and intimidation.

Marie’s father, a partly senile, alcoholic man whose instability and vulnerability contribute to the peril surrounding Marie. His condition adds emotional stakes to Marie's struggle and the community's response to danger.

A member of the Cajun community who appears in supporting scenes around the carnival and bayou life, helping to situate the local culture within the story.

A local acquaintance who participates in the carnival milieu and interacts with Martin and Ulysses during the bayou events.

A local resident associated with the bayou community, contributing to the interplay of everyday life around the carnival and competition.

A seventeen-year-old Cajun girl who works as a crabber to support her partly senile father. She captivates Martin, shaping the romance and the risks embedded in their relationship.

A member of the Cajun community who contributes to the local culture and carnival atmosphere surrounding the events in the bayou.

A local figure who participates in the bayou's social scene and helps populate the community backdrop of the carnival and its tensions.

A fellow local resident who contributes to the social fabric of the bayou community and its everyday life.