Gormenghast

Peake populated his imaginary castle with a large cast of extraordinary characters. These include:

The royal family

Steerpike: An youthful outsider (his origins are never revealed) who worms his way into the hierarchy of Gormenghast for his own personal gain. Ruthlessly murderous, with an extremely Machiavellian mind and a talent for manipulation, he can appear charming and sometimes even noble. He has natural personal enmity with Titus.

Flay: Lord Sepulchrave's personal servant. He believes in strictly holding to the rules of Gormenghast. Nevertheless, he is not completely hard-hearted and cares a great deal for Titus and Fuschia. He is eventually exiled from Gormenghast for throwing one of the Countess's cats at Steerpike.

Dr. Alfred/Bernard Prunesquallor: The castle's resident physician. He is an eccentric individual with a high-pitched laugh and a grandiose wit which he uses on the castle's less intelligent inhabitants. Despite his acidic tongue, he is an extremely kind and caring man who also is greatly fond of Fuchsia and Titus.

Irma Prunesquallor: Doctor Prunesquallor's sister. Though she is anything but pretty, she is considerably vain. She desperately desires to be admired and loved by men.

Abiatha Swelter: The fat, sadistic chef of Gromenghast. His profound hatred for Flay leads him to attempted murder.

Nanny Slagg: An ancient midget who nurses infant Titus as she nursed Fuchsia before him. She is somewhat senile and has a inferiority complex.

Sourdust: The Master of Ritual when the series begins. He is the one who coordinates the various arcane rituals that make up daily life in Gormenghast. After his death, his position is taken up by his son Barquentine.

Barquentine: Follows his father into the role of Master of Ritual. He is lame in one leg, hideous, and unbelieveably dirty. He is a consumate misanthrope who only cares for the laws and traditions of Gormenghast. He makes the grievous error of allowing Steerpike to become his assistant.

Bellgrove: One of Titus's teachers, who eventually ascends to Headmaster of Gormenghast. He is incredibly ancient. In many respects, he is the standard absent-minded professor who falls asleep during his own class and plays with marbles. However, deep inside him there is a certain element of dignity and nobility. He begins a rather unique romance with Irma Prunesquallor.

Keda: One of the Outer Dwellers who lives just outside the walls of Gormenghast. She is chosen to be Titus's wet nurse, but eventually leaves this position. She has two lovers who eventually kill themselves over her, but not before being impregnated by one of them.

Thing: The daughter of Keda. Due to her illegitimacy she is an outcast who becomes a feral child living in the wilderness surrounding Gormenghast. Believing that she is everything opposite of Gormenghast, Titus becomes infatuated with her.