Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe

Wilfred of Ivanhoe is the son of Cedric the Saxon. Cedric disowns him because of his love for Rowena. Wilfred saves Isaac’s life at Rotherwood, then receives armor from Isaac to fight in the tournament at Ashby. At the tournament, Ivanhoe defeats his opponents under the name of the Disinherited Knight. On the second day of the tournament, a knight wounds him, and Rebecca cares for him. After his rescue from Torquilstone, he repays Rebecca's care by defeating Brian at Templestowe. He marries Rowena and serves Richard I until Richard's death.

 Rebecca

Rebecca is Isaac's daughter. Though a Jew, she has loving feelings towards Wilfred. She cares for him when he is wounded, and he rescues her from Brian at Templestowe. She repays Wilfred with jewels and leaves England with her father for another country where she will serve as a healer. Sir Walter Scott uses Rebecca as an example of the good of the Jewish race.

Cedric the Saxon is Ivanhoe's father. Cedric disowns Wilfred because Wilfred loves Rowena. Cedric wants Athelstane and Rowena to marry because they are Saxon royalty. Cedric hates Normans, and everything he does reflects this bias. He disowns Wilfred because Wilfred participates in Norman events. Cedric forgives his son after Richard I intervenes in the problem. Cedric never overcomes his hatred of Normans, but he tolerates them after all of his ordeals.

Brian is a Templar who seeks revenge with Wilfred of Ivanhoe. He joins the Templars because his first love married a Gascon squire. He internalizes his grief and hatred. He meets Rebecca and sees his equal in her. He begs for her love, but he will not take it by force. His contending passions ultimately lead to his death in the lists at Templestowe. Though he is an evil character, he is not as evil as Front-de-Boeuf, because Brian has good intentions.

Isaac of York

 Isaac is a wealthy Jew. His wife is dead, so he is very protective of Rebecca, his daughter. Normans and Saxons despise him and his race because of their practices in money-lending. Sir Walter Scott uses Isaac as an example of the evil in the Jewish race. Isaac epitomizes the evil of the Jews through his greedy and selfish practices. Isaac has good traits as well. In the middle of racial injustice and tragedy, however, Isaac appears greedy and self-centered.

Richard returns from the Crusades as the Black Knight. He performs many deeds of chivalry including the storming of Torquilstone. He unites his loyal followers and destroys Prince John's plot to take the throne. Richard reconciles Wilfred with Cedric and places Wilfred in high position. Sir Walter Scott uses Richard as an example of the good of the Norman race. He is the only Norman character that epitomizes chivalry.

Rowena is Cedric's ward. She loves Wilfred though Cedric engaged her to Athelstane. She has an independent spirit and defies Cedric's wishes if she dislikes them. DeBracy, a Norman knight, courts her at Torquilstone, but she remains true to Wilfred. Wilfred rewards her by marrying her. Wilfred and Rowena live contently as Wilfred serves under Richard I.

Athelstane is a Saxon nobleman descended from royal Saxon blood like Rowena. He changes from a glutton into a chivalrous nobleman as the plot progresses. Originally, he has no great passions or motivations. Rather, he participates in events because of intense persuasion by Cedric. His love for food never ceases throughout the novel. Towards the end of the novel, he becomes a more noble person because of his honesty. Though engaged to Rowena, he gives her to Wilfred because he knows that she does not love him. He faces this truth, and his nobility shines in these moments. At the close of the novel, he does not usurp Richard's throne; he rules only his race.