The Nutcracker and the Mouse King characters

Appears from the start

The Stahlbaums' young daughter, an attentive and imaginative child awaiting the family's Christmas celebration. She is curious about the gifts hidden in the parlor and particularly eager to see what her ingenious godfather Drosselmeier has made.

Appears from the start

Marie's lively brother, who shares her excitement about the unopened Christmas parlor. Fritz favors military toys and energetic games and is impatient for the evening's surprises to be revealed.

Also known as Godfather Drosselmeier

Appears from the start

Marie's ingenious but unsettling godfather, a senior legal official who repairs clocks and constructs intricate mechanical toys. His eye patch and stiff manner can frighten children, but his handmade Christmas gifts are among the evening's chief attractions.

First appears in chapter 2

A wooden figure made to crack nuts with its broad mouth. Although the adults find it comical and Fritz quickly damages it, Marie sees dignity and kindness in its face, claims it as her special charge, and bandages its injured jaw.

First appears in chapter 4

A seven-headed ruler who emerges with an army of mice after midnight. He directs the attack on the toys and confronts the Nutcracker, making him the chief threat within the transformed Christmas room.

First appears in chapter 3

A doll belonging to Marie and treated as an older, elegant member of the toy household. Marie gives up Clara's comfortable bed so the injured Nutcracker can rest there.

Appears from the start

Marie and Fritz's father, a medical councillor who presides over the family's Christmas celebration. He opens the decorated parlor at the appointed time and guides the children through the array of presents.

Appears from the start

Marie and Fritz's caring mother. She supervises the Christmas festivities, shares the children's delight in the gifts, and helps maintain order as they begin to play.

First appears in chapter 7

A royal child in Drosselmeier's tale of the hard nut. Celebrated for her beauty from infancy, she becomes the target of Queen Mouserinks's revenge against the court.

First appears in chapter 7

The proud queen of the mice in Drosselmeier's story. After the king orders a campaign against her family, she places a deforming curse on the infant Princess Pirlipat.

First appears in chapter 9

A well-mannered young man from Nuremberg and the nephew of Drosselmeier the clockmaker in the embedded tale. He has never shaved or worn boots and possesses the strong teeth and careful step required by the court's search.