In "Gracelin O'Malley" so far there has been six main characters presented. They include; Gracelin, Sean, Ryan, Patrick, Squire Donnelly, and Granna. Sean and Ryan are both Gracelin's brothers. They live in the same house along with their grandmother, Granna, and their father, Patrick. For Gracelin's whole life her and her brother Sean have been the closest. They are both smart and enjoy having intellectual disscussions. Sean is also a cripple. He is often sick, so to pass the time he does a lot of reading. Gracelin likes to share and his reading and is always sure to pick up a new good book for him.
Ryan is the oldest brother. He isn't as close as Sean and Gracelin are but he is still a valued member of the family. After there mother's death Ryan and Patrick often worked in the fields together. There soon developed a special bond after spending so much time together and on some days Ryan was the only one that spoke to their father.
Granna is their grandmother. She also lives in the same house with the siblings and their father. Granna is into knitting and is the person in the family to go and talk to when something is their mind, or when they need to express thier feelings. She is a sensible woman with a wise insight. When cold winter hits and a bad rot spreads though the potatoes Granna is unsure that she is going to be able to make it through the winter.
Patrick, the children's father is a hardworking man. He is determined to do whatever he can to provide for his family. After his wife's passing he seems to change. He does not have the same outlook on the world that he used to. He has had a difficult time dealing with his wife's death but is improving every day.
Gracelin is the youngest and also the only daughter in the family. Everyone looks out for her. After her mother dies, although she was very young, she was left to take on the motherly chores in the house. She cooks and does laundry for the rest of the family. Gracelin is always in high spirits. She is a strong and determined woman that will do anything for her family.
The Squire is not part of the O'Malley family. He is the Lord of their estate's son. He is responsible for collected rent from their family as well as looking over the lands. One day over the summer he spots the young girl Gracelin, at a bonfire in the town. He asks her father, for her hand in marriage. I thought that it was a little strange that he was asking to marry a fifteen year old when he was thirty. He was closer to her father's age then hers. After a small disagreement in the family, Gracelin decides that he will marry him because it will give her and her family a better life. There have been some nasty rumors going around about the Squire's invilvement with other women as well as the way he treated his previous to wives. I think that the O'Malley family should have thought more about these stories about the Squire before they agreed to let their Gracelin marry him. So far in their marriage there have been no problems. The Squire treats her with respect and treats her to a luxurious honeymoon in Dublin. He often criticizes her dialect because he wants her to sound more like a women of a wealthier upbringing. Gracelin also has to try and make new friends with the wealthier members of the community who are in the Squire's cycle. At first they seem welcoming but I think that they just look like that on the outside. I think that they are judging Gracelin for Growing up in the country side.
I think that Gracelin and the Squire's marriage is going to face some difficulties because of their different families and lifestyles, also because of the different rumors that have been spread about the Squire. No one knows how much of them are true. She may also encounter some difficulties with the other women in the community. The story has also foreshadowed that there may be some problems with the food supply in the town as well as all of Ireland. Since Gracelin has always loved her family so much, I think she will make time for them and never forget her true culture. The Squire has also always wanted an heir to his position, so I predict that soon into the furture Grace is going to have a baby that will grow up and take the position of Squire Donnelly.