O Pioneers! Characters

Emil is Alexandra’s younger brother, and one of the people closest to her. Emil is handsome and intelligent, one of the novel’s only characters to have attended university. He is desperately in love with Marie Shabata, and their illicit love eventually brings tragedy to the Divide.

John Bergson is the father of Alexandra, Oscar, Lou, and Emil. An intelligent man, John Bergson left his life in Sweden for the difficult terrain of Nebraska. He falls sick at forty-six and leaves the farm in Alexandra’s capable hands, recognizing that she knows the land best.

The wife of John Bergson, Mrs. Bergson is a comfortable-looking, plump woman who loves routine just as her oldest son, Oscar, does. She misses the Old World and passes away a few years after her husband dies.

Angélique is Amédée’s wife. She has faith in their good fortune and jokes around with Emil, just like her husband does.

Signa is the youngest of the three Swedish girls Alexandra employs to do housework. She is Alexandra’s favorite, though she can be skittish around the men at the table. When Alexandra is upset after Emil’s death, Signa returns to take care of her.

Nelse, Signa’s suitor and eventual husband, is a gloomy fellow. He works for Alexandra on the farm and constantly scolds Signa about everything.

Albert Tovesky, Marie’s father, is a successful town leader in Omaha. Marie is his youngest and favorite child.

Joe Tovesky is Marie’s uncle. He dotes on Marie when she is a little girl, showing her off to his friends and buying her a mechanical toy from the shop in town.

Mrs. Lee is Annie Lee’s mother. She is fond of Alexandra, as she misses her old country habits, and Annie and Lou don’t give her as much liberty as Alexandra does.

Milly is Lou and Annie’s daughter. Unlike her parents, Milly is kind and straightforward, and Alexandra is very fond of her.

Annie Lee is Lou’s wife. She’s very conscious of her clothing and tries hard to be fashionable. She hopes to move to the city one day, when the girls are grown.

Mrs. Hiller is the Shabatas’ next-door neighbor.

Barney Flinn is Alexandra’s foreman, though he doesn’t officially go by that title.

Carrie is the sister of Nelse Jensen. She was unhappy and suicidal until her parents sent her to Iowa to visit relatives. When she returned, she was cheerful and said that she was happy to work in a world that was so big and interesting.