Characters:

Harriet Lovatt: Harriet is, what others might want to say, stubborn, conservative, old-fashioned. She is the mother of 5 children and the wife of David Lovatt. She shares the same dream as David; wanting many kids and living in a big house.
David Lovatt: Hard to please, obsolescent, as well as conservative. He is also emotionally fastidious and obsolescent. He works as an architect.
Dorothy: Mother of Harriet who feels like a slave by taking care of the children. Throughout Harriet’s pregnancies Dorothy has taken care of the children.
Fredrick: David’s stepfather who is bulky in appearance and rather comfortable in style. Isn’t rich like James, David’s father, but a “benevolent haystacks” (in David’s opinion.)
Molly: David’s mother who doesn’t approve of Harriet’s and David’s decision on having many kids. Doesn’t think the young couple is ready to have children yet.
James: David's stepfather and Molly’s second husband. He’s bulky man who is untidy, appearance more on the comfortable side rather than the fashionable.
Jessica: David’s stepmother, and second wife of James. Most of the money is hers but she’s happy to help David since money comes easy for them.
Deborah: David’s sister who doesn’t communicate with David. Both have different opinions on ways to live. She chose to live in James’s way of life (a rich life) than Molly’s (working for money).
Sarah: Harriet’s sister who also needs help with her children. She’s having a tough marriage which almost ended numerous times. Has a daughter named Amy with Down Syndrome.
William: Husband of Sarah, almost left her twice. Works in a poor job building trade, and is distressed by physical disability.
Amy: Daughter of both Sarah and William. Is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and brings the parents to understanding because of it.
Luke: 1st child of both David and Harriet.
Helene: 2nd child of both David and Harriet.
Jane: 3rd child of both David and Harriet.
Paul: 4th child of both David and Harriet.
Ben: 5th child of both David and Harriet.
Dr. Brett: Doctor who helps Harriet during her pregnancies. Doesn’t realize the difference between Ben and the children his age. He claims that Ben is normal when in reality he isn’t.
Dr.Gilly: A specialist that Harriet visit's to find out what Ben really is. She stated that the problem wasn’t with Ben but with Harriet
John: A college-aged man who helps Ben stay away from trouble by taking him around with him. Helps Ben feel like he belongs and makes sure Ben doesn’t do anything bad.
Bridget: Helps Harriet take care of the children.
Alice: Cousin of Fredrick, widower who came to help Dorothy. She has three grown up children and grandchildren. Her and Dorothy don't get along well but they still took care of the children.
Angela: Sister of Harriet and Sarah who has 3 children of her own. Feels that her sisters take up all of Dorothy leaving her with nothing.