Milkman Characters

Third brother-in-law is married to third sister. He is middle sister’s favorite in-law, and they often go on runs together. Although third brother-in-law does not talk much about politics, middle sister learns he is well aware of what is going on in their town.

French teacher teaches at the local community college, which middle sister attends. French teacher cares more about expanding her student’s minds—particularly in regard to the Troubles—than she does about teaching French.

Real milkman delivers milk in middle sister’s neighborhood. He has been friends with middle sister’s mother since childhood and feels tries his best to look out for her children. The state authorities shoot real milkman when they mistake him for Milkman, which lands him in the hospital.

Tablets girl is a mentally ill woman who regularly poisons people in middle sister’s community. Although the community tolerates her behavior for a long time, someone (possibly Milkman) eventually murders her, presumably in retaliation against tablets girl’s poisoning of middle sister.

Tablets girl’s sister is a kind woman, who was once romantically involved with third brother. When third brother hears tablets girl’s sister was poisoned, he rushes to find her and admits he is still in love with her.

First brother-in-law is eldest sister’s husband. He regularly cheats on eldest sister and regularly engages in sexually inappropriate behavior. Since middle sister was a young girl, first brother-in-law would ask her inappropriate sexual questions. He is also responsible for spreading the rumor that middle sister is involved with Milkman.

Eldest sister is married to first brother-in-law. For much of the novel, she and middle sister are angry with each other and do not talk. Middle sister feels that eldest sister wants her to suffer so that they have comparably unhappy lives.

Second brother is dead at the start of the novel. He joined the renouncers while still in high school and died in the conflict.

Third sister is third brother-in-law’s wife. She rarely appears in the novel, though when she does, it is to make fun of third brother-in-law and middle sister for their habit of running together.

Third brother is middle sister’s twin. He barely appears in the novel because he rarely comes to see his family. However, he does return home when he hears that tablets girl’s sister (whom he used to date and is still in love with) is sick.

Second sister lives in England because she was forced out of the community after marrying a Protestant man.

Middle sister’s father is deceased at the start of the novel. He was chronically depressed and died in a mental institution.

“Wee Sisters” is middle sister’s collective name for her three youngest siblings. They are inquisitive and incredibly intelligent for their age.

Nuclear boy is one of Somebody McSomebody’s brothers. He is obsessed with the Cold War, so much so that he pays no attention to local politics.

Nuclear boy’s mother is a depressed woman who has lost most of her family due to the Troubles and poor luck. She is also the mother of Somebody McSomebody.

Lassie is the dog middle sister had as a child.