The Great Meadow

Elvira is Berk’s mother and the family’s steadfast matriarch. She provides practical counsel to the group, reinforces the value of family bonds, and warns of the frontier’s dangers. Her death at the hands of an Indian attacker underscores the peril that shadows every step westward.

Thomas Hall is the quiet, steady patriarch who keeps the homestead running and shares war news with his family. He embodies the agrarian values of late 18th-century Virginia and anchors the clan through hardship and loss. His leadership helps the family cope with the decision to migrate.

Evan is a successful neighbor and Diony’s eventual husband after Berk’s departure. He embodies steadiness, generosity, and practical optimism, offering support to Diony and the community after tragedy. His presence provides a contrasting path of stability and shared life with Diony.

Sally is a wary neighbor whose warnings reflect frontier fear and memory of past losses. She grounds the family with cautionary perspectives about leaving the fort and facing Indian threats. Her voice embodies the collective memory of danger in the wilderness.

Betty is Diony’s sister, emotional about the departure but supportive of her family’s choices. She represents the personal costs of migration and the emotional resilience of those left behind. Her responses highlight sibling bonds in a world of hardship.

Rubin is the practical, loyal brother who participates in the homestead’s life and the journey to Kentucky. He contributes to the family’s survival through everyday labor and acts of faith in his kin. His presence keeps the family grounded amid upheaval.

Diony is the film’s central frontier woman, who endures loss, labor, and separation with quiet strength. Her resilience, moral clarity, and love drive the story as she navigates choosing between Berk and Evan. Her character embodies perseverance and self-determination in a harsh landscape.

Molly is Diony’s mother, a source of warmth and practical wisdom who helps keep the family connected. She passes on legacies of skill and knowledge, preparing Diony for the trials ahead. Her presence anchors the emotional core of the family’s journey.

Berk is Diony’s husband-to-be, a bold, impulsive frontier leader who volunteers for the Kentucky trek. He fights to protect his family and later confronts the consequences of vengeance and separation. His bond with Diony and willingness to face danger shapes the frontier’s dramatic arc.