Macey, Dowlas, Snell, Lundy, Tookey, Winthrop
These characters represent the range of Raveloe character and opinion, from Macey, the self-admiring authoritative old-timer, to Tookey, the defensively uncertain newcomer. Dowlas is the "negative spirit" of the group, almost a freethinker. Snell, the landlord, is the peacemaker, and Ben Winthrop is simply an average well-established inhabitant of Raveloe. None of the group is developed to any depth, but they are distinct individuals. Some of them—Macey and Dowlas, especially—are among the more forceful characters of the book. As a group, they give information about the background of the story, comment on the action, and are a source of broad comedy.
