Mourning Becomes Electra

Daughter of Ezra and Christine, Lavinia is fiercely loyal to her father and wary of her mother's schemes. She wrestles with competing loyalties, pride, and desire, and her decisions propel the tragedy forward. Her sharp wit and emotional intensity make her the center of the family drama.

A passionate, manipulative wife who loves Adam Brant; she engineers confrontations and uses her charm to bend others to her will. Her hatred of Ezra and need to control Lavinia drive the plot toward catastrophe. Her affair and schemes culminate in a dramatic act that seals the family's doom.

Patriarch and Civil War veteran; a stern, competing man whose love for Christine is matched by brutal pride. His heart weakness becomes a fatal symbol of the era's emotional toll. His revelation lies behind the final tragedies.

Sea captain; the enigmatic lover who sparks the central love triangle. He is cunning and driven by passion, returning to play a pivotal role in the family’s downfall. His opposition to Ezra ignites deadly consequences.

Ezra's son, wounded in war, torn between family loyalty and guilt. He collaborates in the murder of Adam, then descends into guilt and madness after his mother's manipulations. His arc culminates in suicide, sealing the tragedy.

Lavinia's suitor who embodies social propriety and the struggle between genuine feeling and family pressures. He pursues a hopeful, stable union but becomes entangled in the Mannon conflicts. His presence represents the attempt to restore order amid chaos.

Peter's sister, a perceptive observer of the Mannon turmoil. She symbolizes the outside eye on the family’s entanglements and the fragile web of gossip. She serves as a muted witness to the escalating tragedy.

Old family servant who anchors the household with quiet loyalty. He bears witness to the events unfolding around the Mannons and acts as a subtle moral gauge for the family.