David Balfour -
David is the dynamic protagonist and narrator of Kidnapped. He is a seventeen-year-old orphan
from the Lowlands, and was raised a Protestant Whig. His unfamiliar viewpoint gives the adventures in
the Highlands a fresh interpretation. At the beginning of the novel, David is inexperienced, but shows some signs of
courage by standing up to his uncle. After being shipwrecked, his suffering and desparation develop into strength as
he adventures across the Scottish Highlands. David grows in experience and is able to plot against his uncle to gain
his long awaited inheritance.
Alan Breck Stewart -
Alan also has a heroic role in the novel. He is a dashing young adventurer and skilled swordsman who
is constantly chased by the Redcoats. Once a British soldier, he is now a loyal Catholic Jacobite. Alan takes extreme
pride in his Stewart clan and is well acquainted with his native Highland lands, acting as a navigator to David. Alan
teaches David about survival and gives him a new perspective on the often scorned Highlanders.
Uncle Ebenezer-
Ebenezer Balfour is the novel's antagonist. Once a handsome man, he and his brother, David's father, vied
for the same woman. David's father married the woman and Ebenezer got to keep the estate. He is a miserly old bachelor that
leds the House of Shaws to deterioration. Although he pretends to be a fatherly figure to David, he acts cruelly
and constantly plots against him in order to keep the entire Balfour fortune. He bribes Hosseaon to kidnap David onto
the Covenant and sell him into American slavery. Ebenezer shows slight signs of kindness what the end of the
novel during Alan and Rankeillor's scheme when he agrees to pay for David's safety, but remains stingy in his offers.
Other Notable Characters
Mr. Campbell - a Lowland Protestant preacher that looks after David following his father's
death. He helps instill David's strong moral principles.
Captain Hoseason - the captain of the Covenant. He is bribed
to kidnap David and sell him into slavery in the Americas. He is an unkind and corrupt character and threatens David
and Alan's lives.
Mr. Shuan - first officer of the Covenant. He is unkind to David and kills Ransome
in a drunken rage. Although he is later remoresful for his action, he is brutally murdered by Alan in the Round-House battle.
Riach - second officer of the Covenant. He is more friendly to David, but
only when drunk.
Ransome - a young wretched cabin boy on the Covenant. He tells David many ridiculous
stories and is killed by Mr. Shuan.
Colin Campbell, "The Red Fox" - a royal authority in the Highlands that is plotting to
evict the Jacobite Stewarts. His murder is an important event in the novel that triggers Alan and David's flight.
James of the Glens - a leader of the Stewart clan and Alan's personal friend. He is a major
suspect in the Campbell murder.
Mr. Rankeillor - an attorney in Queensferry that helps David claim his inheritance from
Uncle Ebenezer.
