Frado

Jim

Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.

Mrs. Bellmont

Mrs. Bellmont is Frado's cruel mistress and primary antagonist, subjecting her to relentless abuse.

Mary

Mary, Mrs. Bellmont's daughter, actively torments and bullies Frado alongside her mother.

Aunt Abby

Aunt Abby is a kind, protective ally to Frado, offering comfort and support against the Bellmonts' cruelty.

Jack

Jack, the Bellmonts' son, is one of the few family members who shows Frado occasional kindness and defends her.

Mr. Bellmont

Mr. Bellmont is Frado's employer and master, but he is largely passive and fails to protect her from his wife's abuse.

Susan

Susan is Frado's stepmother, who is kind to her but unable to fully protect her from the Bellmonts.

Mag Smith

Mag Smith is Frado's biological mother, who abandons her, leading to Frado's indenture to the Bellmonts.

Jack

Jack, the Bellmonts' son, is one of the few family members who shows Frado occasional kindness and defends her.

Mrs. Bellmont

Mrs. Bellmont is Frado's cruel mistress and primary antagonist, subjecting her to relentless abuse.

Jim

Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.

Mary

Mary, Mrs. Bellmont's daughter, actively torments and bullies Frado alongside her mother.

Our Nig

Introduced as the mixed-race daughter of Mag Smith, left at the Bellmonts' home.

II: My Father’s Death

Frado is a six-year-old beautiful mulatto child, wild and frolicky, who is left by her mother at the Bellmonts' home.

III: A New Home for Me

Frado is left at the Bellmonts, subjected to hard labor, racial abuse, and physical punishment, but finds some solace in school and the kindness of Miss Marsh.

IV: A Friend for Nig

Beaten and kicked by Mrs. Bellmont, runs away, is found by James and Jack, and shares her grief with James about her mother and her skin color.

Departures

Grieves James's departure, performs heavy labor, plays a dangerous trick on a sheep, and loses her dog Fido when Mrs. Bellmont sells him.

Varieties

Overworked and abused, she finds comfort in Fido and hopes to leave with James.

VII: Spiritual Condition of Nig

Devoted to James, she insists on being called to help him despite her exhaustion. She weeps over his condition and is whipped by Mrs. Bellmont for showing emotion. James recounts her lamenting her loneliness and blackness.

Visitor and Departure

Suffers a spiritual crisis, reads the Bible, endures a brutal beating from Mrs. Bellmont, and finds solace in James's protection and religious instruction.

IX: Death

Grieves James's death, seeks spiritual solace, endures Mrs. Bellmont's abuse and public humiliation at the funeral.

X: Perplexities.—Another Death

Frado experiences a spiritual crisis after James's death, attends meeting, and is threatened by Mrs. Bellmont. She asserts herself at the woodpile, feels relief at Mary's death, and resolves to stay until she is eighteen.

Marriage Again

Frado helps Jenny send a letter to Jack, leaves the Bellmonts, works for Mrs. Moore and others, falls ill, and later learns straw bonnet-making while striving for self-improvement.

XII: The Winding Up of the Matter

Marries Samuel, is deserted, gives birth, and eventually supports herself through a trade.

Appendix

Described as having a 'black, but comely' face, she finds a home with Mrs. Walker, marries a fugitive slave, is deserted, and later struggles as a single mother.