public List<Character> getCharacterList(String path) {
        List<?> list = getList(path);

        if (list == null) {
            return new ArrayList<Character>(0);
        }

        List<Character> result = new ArrayList<Character>();

        for (Object object : list) {
            if (object instanceof Character) {
                result.add((Character) object);
            } else if (object instanceof String) {
                String str = (String) object;

                if (str.length() == 1) {
                    result.add(str.charAt(0));
                }
            } else if (object instanceof Number) {
                result.add((char) ((Number) object).intValue());
            }
        }

        return result;
    }