* Mattie Ross: A 14-year-old girl who hires Rooster Cogburn to track down the outlaw Tom Chaney, who killed her father. She is determined, resourceful, and fiercely independent.
* Rooster Cogburn: A one-eyed, hard-drinking US Marshal known for his ruthlessness and skill with a gun. He is initially reluctant to take Mattie on the journey but eventually agrees.
* LaBoeuf: A Texas Ranger who is also searching for Tom Chaney, but for different reasons. He is more civilized than Cogburn but also proves to be a capable and resourceful tracker.
While the story focuses on these three main characters, several other characters play significant roles, including:
* Tom Chaney: The villain of the story, who is responsible for Mattie's father's death.
* Little Britches: A young boy who accompanies Cogburn and Mattie on their journey.
* Ned Pepper: Another outlaw who is associated with Tom Chaney.
* Lucky Ned Pepper: A young outlaw who is Ned Pepper's brother.
The specific dynamics and relationships between these characters vary between the novel and the film adaptations, but they all contribute to the story's themes of justice, revenge, and the complexities of human nature.