The Rainbow

by

D. H. Lawrence

Ursula Brangwen

Ursula Brangwen in the daughter of Anna Brangwen and Will Brangwen. Like her mother, Ursula is a spirited child, who does not like to conform to the demands of the society surrounding her. As… read analysis of Ursula Brangwen

Tom Brangwen

Tom Brangwen is the son of Alfred Brangwen and Mrs. Brangwen. When Tom is a young boy, Mrs. Brangwen sends him away to school, hoping he will use his education to create a career… read analysis of Tom Brangwen

Anna Lensky/Anna Brangwen

Anna Lensky is the daughter of Lydia Lensky and Paul Lensky, as well as the stepdaughter of Tom Brangwen. As a child, Anna clings to her mother, although Tom eventually gets her to… read analysis of Anna Lensky/Anna Brangwen

Lydia Lensky/Lydia Brangwen

Lydia Brangwen is a Polish woman who, as a young adult, was deeply involved with politics, largely because of her marriage to Paul Lensky. Lydia had three children with Paul, including Anna Brangwenread analysis of Lydia Lensky/Lydia Brangwen

Anton Skrebensky

Anton Skrebensky is the son of Baron Skrebensky, making him wealthy and well-traveled. As a young man, Anton serves in the Second Boer War. However, before deploying for the war, Anton meets and falls… read analysis of Anton Skrebensky
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Will Brangwen

Will Brangwen is the son of Alfred Brangwen Jr. As a young man, he pays a visit to Marsh Farm and falls in love with Anna Brangwen (who is Anna Lensky at the time). After… read analysis of Will Brangwen

Alfred Brangwen Jr.

Alfred Brangwen Jr. is the son of Alfred Brangwen and Mrs. Brangwen. He moves away from Marsh Farm to work as a draftsman. He marries a woman from a wealthy family and becomes rather… read analysis of Alfred Brangwen Jr.

Paul Lensky

Paul Lensky is Anna Brangwen’s first husband. Paul is a revolutionary who is deeply involved in Polish politics. Unfortunately, Paul focuses so much on politics that he neglects his family. When the family moves… read analysis of Paul Lensky
Minor Characters
Winifred Inger
Winifred Inger is one of Ursula’s teachers. Briefly, Ursula and Winifred become romantically involved, though they both know they can never be together. Still, Ursula feels that she learns much from Winifred about what is possible for her in the world. Eventually, Winifred marries Tom Brangwen Jr.
Mrs. Brangwen
Mrs. Brangwen is the mother of Tom Brangwen, Effie Brangwen, and Alfred Brangwen Jr. She loves all of her children but is especially fond of Tom, who she hopes will develop into a man of the world.
Alfred Brangwen
Alfred Brangwen is the father of Tom Brangwen, Effie Brangwen, and Alfred Brangwen Jr. He is also the patriarch of Marsh Farm at the beginning of the novel. He dies while his children are still young.
Maggie Schofield
Maggie teaches with Ursula Brangwen and the two of them become friends. Maggie is politically active and introduces Ursula to the suffragette movement. Maggie is also the sister of Anthony Schofield.
Effie Brangwen
Effie Brangwen is the sister of Tom Brangwen and Alfred Brangwen Jr. She lives with Tom on Marsh Farm for a short time, but ultimately moves away and marries because she cannot stand Tom’s drinking.
Tom Brangwen Jr.
Tom Brangwen Jr. is the son of Tom Brangwen and Lydia Brangwen. He is an intelligent and adventurous young man who studies engineering in London and later works for a collier. He eventually marries Winifred Inger.
Fred Brangwen
Fred Brangwen is the son of Tom Brangwen and Lydia Brangwen. Largely, he shares his father’s disposition and takes over the farm after Tom dies.
Baron Skrebensky
Baron Skrebensky is a wealthy Polish man who is friends with Lydia. He is married to Millicent Maud Pearse and is the father of Anton Skrebensky.
Gudrun Brangwen
Gudrun Brangwen is the daughter of Anna Brangwen and Will Brangwen. She is a free-spirited girl who grows up to be a talented artist.
Anthony Schofield
Anthony Schofield is the brother of Maggie Schofield. He falls in love with Ursula Brangwen while she is staying at Belcote Hall and asks her to marry him. Although Ursula likes Anthony, she rejects his proposal.
Jennie
Jennie is a young woman Will Brangwen meets while out at the theatre. Will attempts to seduce her, though his seduction more closely resembles an assault when she rejects him.
Mr. Harby
Mr. Harby is the principal at the school where Ursula teaches. Although he does not care for Ursula, he does pay her a compliment when she decides to leave for college.
Dorothy Russell
Dorothy is a young woman Ursula meets while in college. Dorothy is heavily involved in politics, particularly regarding the rights of women.
Tilly
Tilly is a servant who lives with Tom Brangwen and Lydia Brangwen on Marsh Farm.
Nut-Nat
Nut-Nat is a man Anna Brangwen meets at the cattle market who unsettles her.
Mrs. Forbes
Mrs. Forbes is a woman from Ilkeston with whom Alfred Brangwen Jr. has an affair.
Ethel
Ethel is one of Ursula’s friends from school. Her sensibilities are far more conservative than Ursula’s.
Williams
Williams is a student at the school where Ursula teaches. Because he is disruptive, Ursula gives him a beating, which she later regrets.
Mrs. Alfred Brangwen
Mrs. Alfred Brangwen is the wife of Alfred Brangwen Jr.
Millicent Maud Pearse
Millicent Maud Pearse is Baron Skrebensky’s young wife.
Theresa Brangwen
Theresa Brangwen is the daughter of Anna Brangwen and Will Brangwen.
Catherine Brangwen
Catherine Brangwen is the daughter of Anna Brangwen and Will Brangwen.
Miss Coates
Miss Coates is Anna Brangwen’s schoolteacher.
Laura Brangwen
Laura Brangwen is Fred Brangwen’s wife.