·       Sam Spade: The protagonist of the novel, a private detective who is hired by Brigid O'Shaughnessy to find the Maltese Falcon, a statuette of a falcon with a jeweled eye that is rumored to be cursed. Spade is a tough and cynical man who is not afraid to bend the rules to get the job done. He is also a bit of a loner who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

·       Brigid O'Shaughnessy: A beautiful and mysterious woman who hires Spade to find the Maltese Falcon. She is a cunning and manipulative woman who is not afraid to use her beauty to get what she wants. She is also a bit of a femme fatale who is not afraid to use men to achieve her goals.

·       Joel Cairo: A small, dapper man who is also searching for the Maltese Falcon. He is a sly and devious man who is not afraid to lie and cheat to get what he wants. He is also a bit of a comic relief character who provides some much-needed humor in the novel.

·       Gutman: A wealthy and powerful man who is also searching for the Maltese Falcon. He is a ruthless and sadistic man who is not afraid to kill to get what he wants. He is also a bit of a caricature of a villain who provides some over-the-top moments in the novel.

·       Iva Archer: The widow of Miles Archer, Spade's partner who was recently murdered. She is a beautiful and wealthy woman who is not afraid to use her beauty to get what she wants. She is also a bit of a mystery to Spade, as he struggles to understand her true intentions.

·       Det. Lt. Dundy: The lead detective on the case of Miles Archer's murder. He is a dedicated detective who is determined to find the killer. He is also a bit of a by-the-book cop who is not afraid to bend the rules if he feels it is necessary.