Col. Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick) is a protagonist in Glory.
Union officer who accepts command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He advocates for his men's rights, protests unequal pay, and refuses manual labor assignments. He volunteers his regiment for the assault on Fort Wagner, where he is killed while rallying his troops. Pvt. Trip (played by Denzel Washington) is a protagonist in Glory.
A formerly enslaved Black soldier in the 54th. Initially resentful, he leads the pay refusal protest against racial inequality. Despite his doubts about the war, he ultimately rallies the regiment by carrying the flag during the Fort Wagner assault, where he is fatally wounded. Maj. Cabot Forbes (played by Cary Elwes) appears in Glory.
Shaw's close friend and second-in-command of the 54th. He remains loyal throughout training and combat. During the Fort Wagner assault, he leads soldiers into the fort's outer defenses and survives the battle alongside Rawlins and Thomas. Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins (played by Morgan Freeman) appears in Glory.
A free Black man and early recruit. He demonstrates strong leadership by mentoring younger soldiers and providing Shaw with crucial insights into the men's morale, earning a promotion to Sergeant-Major. He survives the Fort Wagner assault and faces the final Confederate gun. Col. James M. Montgomery (played by Cliff DeYoung) appears in Glory.
Pvt. Jupiter Sharts (played by Jihmi Kennedy) appears in Glory.
One of the initial volunteers for the 54th. He endures the regiment's rigorous training and combat deployment. He survives the brutal assault on Fort Wagner and is among the small group of survivors who face the Confederate artillery at the end of the battle. Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy (played by John Finn) appears in Glory.
The regiment's drill instructor responsible for the 54th's rigorous training. He oversees the soldiers' preparation before they are deployed into combat assignments. Cpl. Thomas Searles (played by Andre Braugher) appears in Glory.
A highly educated free Black man and early recruit. During the Battle of James Island, he is wounded but heroically saves Trip's life. He survives the Fort Wagner assault and is among the final group of soldiers facing the Confederate battery.
Glory (1989) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Col. Robert Gould Shaw
(played by Matthew Broderick) — protagonist
Union officer who accepts command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He advocates for his men's rights, protests unequal pay, and refuses manual labor assignments. He volunteers his regimen...
Pvt. Trip
(played by Denzel Washington) — protagonist
A formerly enslaved Black soldier in the 54th. Initially resentful, he leads the pay refusal protest against racial inequality. Despite his doubts about the war, he ultimately rallies the regiment by...
Maj. Cabot Forbes
(played by Cary Elwes) — supporting
Shaw's close friend and second-in-command of the 54th. He remains loyal throughout training and combat. During the Fort Wagner assault, he leads soldiers into the fort's outer defenses and survives th...
Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
(played by Morgan Freeman) — supporting
A free Black man and early recruit. He demonstrates strong leadership by mentoring younger soldiers and providing Shaw with crucial insights into the men's morale, earning a promotion to Sergeant-Majo...
Col. James M. Montgomery
(played by Cliff DeYoung) — supporting
Pvt. Jupiter Sharts
(played by Jihmi Kennedy) — supporting
One of the initial volunteers for the 54th. He endures the regiment's rigorous training and combat deployment. He survives the brutal assault on Fort Wagner and is among the small group of survivors w...
Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy
(played by John Finn) — supporting
The regiment's drill instructor responsible for the 54th's rigorous training. He oversees the soldiers' preparation before they are deployed into combat assignments.
Cpl. Thomas Searles
(played by Andre Braugher) — supporting
A highly educated free Black man and early recruit. During the Battle of James Island, he is wounded but heroically saves Trip's life. He survives the Fort Wagner assault and is among the final group...
Capt. Charles Fessenden Morse
(played by Donovan Leitch) — supporting
An officer in the 54th who participates in the assault on Fort Wagner. He is killed during the initial push into the fort's outer defenses alongside Major Forbes.
Gen. Charles Garrison Harker
(played by Bob Gunton) — supporting
A Union general who assumes command of the 54th after their training. Shaw confronts him about the regiment being used for manual labor and civilian raids, threatening to report Harker's corruption un...
Key Relationships
Gen. Charles Garrison Harker → Capt. Charles Fessenden Morse
(related)
Capt. Charles Fessenden Morse → Gen. Charles Garrison Harker
(related)
