A Complicated Kindness Characters

The Mouth’s wife and Nomi’s aunt, whose real name is unknown. Aunt Gonad supports her husband in whatever he says or does and never speaks for herself. She’s an example of the marginalization of women’s voices in conservative Mennonite culture.

One of Nomi’s neighbors. As a young girl, Nomi spends a memorable afternoon watching Carson slaughter chickens with his father, Mr. Enns.

Carson Enns’ father and Nomi’s neighbor, a gruff man who slaughters chickens in his backyard.

Nomi’s neighbor, a young unnamed child. The neighbor girl is plucky and inventive, often demanding that Nomi play charades or pretend with her. Nomi’s patient and loving behavior towards the girl reveals her compassionate nature, which she tries to hide behind a tough exterior.

Nomi’s preschool classmate, who dies in a tragic childhood accident. Nomi later becomes close with Clayton’s mother, Mrs. Peters.

Tash’s boyfriend who shares Tash’s rebellious attitude and desire for knowledge outside the strict limits of their conservative, insular Mennonite community. He and Tash ultimately leave East Village together.

The Comb’s cousin and sidekick, a Mennonite misfit who lives in a trailer outside of the town.

An elderly woman whom Trudie cares for as part of her Mennonite community service. After Mrs. Klippenstein moves to a Mennonite nursing home, Trudie uses her empty house to have secret trysts with Mr. Quiring.

Mrs. Klippenstein’s grandson and Nomi’s classmate, with whom Nomi reminisces about the comparatively simple days of childhood.

A classmate of Nomi’s, who now works at the general store. Nomi often feels that she could develop a genuine friendship with Gloria, but the two girls never move beyond stilted small talk.

One of the nurses who cares for Lids at the hospital. The mean nurse thinks that Lids is faking her mysterious illness and consistently demeans and ignores her. This angers Nomi, who eventually throws a can of orange juice at her in fit of frustration.

One of the nurses who cares for Lids at the hospital. She is much more attentive to Lids than the mean nurse, and allows Nomi to visit the hospital even after her explosive argument with the mean nurse.

A community member who has been excommunicated for alcoholism. Bert still lives in East Village, even though everyone there is obligated to shun him. Bert shows how harsh policies like shunning affect people who suffer from addiction or mental illness.

Trudie’s and The Mouth’s mother, and Nomi and Tash’s grandmother. Grandmother is somewhat senile and addicted to vanilla extract, which she drinks instead of alcohol. Tash attributes her mental decline to worry and regret over The Mouth’s development into a harsh and dogmatic preacher.

A counselor at a Christian summer camp, with whom Tash has a brief romance.

One of Nomi’s cousins, who is mentally handicapped.

A government education inspector whom Ray befriends when she visits his school.

A conventional Mennonite woman, who allows Travis to rebel against his community but seems to dislike Nomi.

The founder of the Mennonite sect, a 16th century radical theologian. Nomi imagines Menno Simons as a mean-spirited, socially-awkward man who forces his followers to retreat from the world because he’s scared of confronting it. Nomi’s imagined Menno epitomizes everything she dislikes about Mennonite life.