<Li> Simon Jordan, M.D., is a fictional character, a well - traveled and educated young physician who intends to make his career in mental health, planning to open a private asylum someday . </Li> <Li> Mary Whitney is a fictional character, a maid, and friend of Grace Marks . Mary believes in herself and in Canada as a place that a hard working girl can earn her way . She plans to save her wages for a dowry so she can marry a farmer and be mistress of her own home . </Li> <Li> Jeremiah Pontelli is a fictional character . Jeremiah the peddler, alias Geraldo Ponti, magician, alias Dr. Jerome Du Pont, "Neuro - Hypnotist", first met Grace when she was a new housemaid and he was peddling house to house in Toronto . When he called at the Kinnear house, he told her he feared she might be in danger there . </Li> <P> Grace Marks, born in 1826, lived in or near Toronto from age 12 until 16, when the famous murders took place . She had resided in The Kingston Penitentiary in Kingston, Ontario for 15 years in 1859, when the novel begins . Among Toronto and Kingston society, Atwood portrays the highly moralistic, straitlaced language and behavior of the Victorian era . By contrast, it is evident that Mary Whitney's crude comments would have been shocking even among servants of that time . </P>

Who plays grace's father on alias grace