The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Main Characters and Their Development

• Unnamed narrator - the main character and storyteller who returns to his hometown for a funeral and recalls events from his childhood. As a child, he was a lonely boy who found solace in his friendship with Lettie Hempstock. As he grows up, he forgets the supernatural events, but returning home awakens his memories.
• Lettie Hempstock - a girl who lives on the farm at the end of the lane. She claims to have been eleven years old for a very long time. Lettie possesses magical abilities and becomes the narrator's protector, helping him deal with the dangers threatening him and his family.
• Ursula Monkton - the antagonist of the story, a demon who takes the form of an attractive woman and becomes the narrator's nanny. She manipulates his family and tries to take control of their lives. Ursula represents a threat that Lettie and the narrator must fight against.
• Mrs. Hempstock - Lettie's mother, a wise and powerful woman who also possesses magical abilities. She plays an important role in protecting the narrator and his family from supernatural threats.
• Old Mrs. Hempstock - Lettie's grandmother, the oldest and most powerful of the Hempstocks. She has deep knowledge of magic and the world, and her wisdom aids in the battle against Ursula Monkton.