Island in the Sun

The white plantation owner's son whose fragile sense of worth drives impulsive, jealous actions. He is tormented by fear of infidelity and envies his sister Jocelyn's youth and prospects. His attempt to cover a crime leads to murder and a desperate surrender to the police, exposing how insecurity can ignite violent consequences.

Maxwell's wife, a focal point of marital strain shaped by Maxwell's mounting jealousy. She navigates a tense relationship under the pressure of suspicion and social expectations. Her position highlights how private insecurities reverberate through a public, colonial society.

Maxwell's younger sister, courted by Euan Templeton and later revealed to be pregnant by him. Her mother's revelation about her paternity reshapes her sense of identity, and she ultimately marries Euan and leaves for England with Margot and Denis.

The Oxford-bound governor's son who falls for Jocelyn, navigating a romance under the watchful eye of colonial expectations. His pursuit of marriage is tempered by status and racial considerations, leading to a politically charged alliance with Jocelyn.

An ambitious Black union leader emerging as a powerful political voice. Diplomatic in some circles, he is seen by many as a threat to the white ruling class, while developing a tense romance with Mavis that tests racial boundaries and political loyalties.

Widow of the island's aging elite, she develops a romantic interest in David Boyeur, creating attraction and tension within the colonial power structure. Her pursuit of meaningful connection intersects with the island's racial and political boundaries, culminating in a difficult rejection.

A mixed-race beauty striving to better her life through hard work and charm, eventually securing a secretary position in the governor's office. She forms a key alliance with Denis Archer and participates in the social weaving of power and opportunity on the island.

Governor's aide who is smitten with Margot and wins her away from David, leading to a marriage and a life that carries them toward England. His ambitions intersect with personal desires, illustrating how professional roles mingle with romance in a colonial setting.

The island's governor, a shrewd and polished figure who embodies colonial authority. He oversees the machinery of power, balancing public appearances with the complex social dynamics the island faces as legacy and change collide.

The cagey chief of police who investigates Hilary Carson's murder. He uses careful insinuations and psychological hints to press Maxwell toward truth, reflecting a methodical approach to crime within a rigid hierarchy.

A handsome, single former war hero who attracts Margot and becomes a rival in the eyes of Maxwell. His untimely murder catalyzes the central tragedy and reveals the corrosive effects of jealousy and prestige.

The matriarch who holds family secrets and plays a pivotal role in revealing Jocelyn's true paternity. Her influence underscores how lineage and reputation govern social mobility and personal decisions.

The upper-class Englishman believed to be Jocelyn's father, whose true paternity becomes a turning point for Jocelyn's identity and marriage prospects. His legacy factors into the island's complicated web of lineage and legitimacy.

An American journalist visiting the island who uncovers Maxwell's mixed-race ancestry, triggering a public controversy and forcing a dramatic public embrace and rejection of race on Maxwell's part.