The Return of the Native Character Analysis

Eustacia Vye

Eustacia Vye is an aloof young woman who has dreams of escaping Egdon Heath and going to Paris. Eustacia was born in Budmouth, a fashionable seaside town, but she was forced to move to… read analysis of Eustacia Vye

Clym Yeobright

Clym Yeobright is an intelligent young man who returns to Egdon Heath after living in Paris, where he worked as a jeweler for several years. Much to the dismay of Mrs. Yeobright, his… read analysis of Clym Yeobright

Thomasin Yeobright

Thomasin Yeobright is the niece of Mrs. Yeobright and the cousin of Clym Yeobright. Before Clym moved to Paris to work as jeweler, most locals believed he would marry Thomasin. However, Thomasin becomes engaged… read analysis of Thomasin Yeobright

Mrs. Yeobright

Mrs. Yeobright is the mother of Clym Yeobright and the aunt of Thomasin Yeobright. At the start of the novel, she opposes Thomasin’s marriage to Wildeve, whom she believes is not high class… read analysis of Mrs. Yeobright

Damon Wildeve

Damon Wildeve runs the Quiet Woman Inn. The novel begins on what’s supposed to be his wedding to Thomasin, though an issue with the marriage license forces them to postpone the wedding. Although Wildeve… read analysis of Damon Wildeve

Diggory Venn (The Reddleman)

Diggory Venn is a reddleman (a peddler of red dye for sheep) who is in love with Thomasin Yeobright. Previously a dairy farmer, Venn became a reddleman after Thomasin rejected his marriage proposal sometime… read analysis of Diggory Venn (The Reddleman)

Captain Vye

Captain Vye is the grandfather of Eustacia Vye. He used to be a sailor and often entertains the locals with his stories about his former life at sea. He takes Eustacia in after both… read analysis of Captain Vye

Johnny Nunsuch

Johnny is the son of Susan Nunsuch. He encounters Mrs. Yeobright on her way back from Clym’s house, making him the last person to see her alive. During this encounter, Mrs. Yeobright told… read analysis of Johnny Nunsuch

Minor Characters

Grandfer Cantle

Along with Timothy Fairway, Grandfer Cantle acts as a leader to the general laborers in Egdon Heath. Grandfer loves to party, sing, and gossip. He is the grandfather of Christian Cantle.

Timothy Fairway

Timothy Fairway (along with Grandfer Cantle) acts as a leaders to the general laborers in Egdon Heath. Timothy is prone to gossip, storytelling, and general revelry.

Susan Nunsuch

Susan Nunsuch is a meanspirited and superstitious woman who is convinced that Eustacia is a witch. At one point, she stabs Eustacia with a needle in church, and she later burns an effigy of Eustacia. Susan Nunsuch is the mother of Johnny Nunsuch.

Christian Cantle

Christian Cantle is the grandson of Grandfer Cantle. Mrs. Yeobright asks Christian to bring Clym and Thomasin their inheritance, but he gambles it away in a game of dice against Wildeve.

Charley

Charley works for the Vye family. He is infatuated with Eustacia and promises her his role in the Christmas play if she will hold his hand. Clym gives Charley a lock of Eustacia’s hair after she dies.

Baby Eustacia

Baby Eustacia is the daughter of Thomasin Yeobright and Damon Wildeve.

Olly Dowden

Olly is a local broom maker. She celebrates Guy Fawkes Day with Grandfer Cantle and escorts Mrs. Yeobright to the Quiet Woman Inn.

Sam

Sam is a local who performs various odd jobs for the Vyes and the Yeobrights.

Humphrey

Humphrey is a furze-cutter who is often seen with Grandfer Cantle and Timothy Fairway.