Elizabeth is a former primary school teacher who left apartheid South Africa and an abusive marriage to settle in the village of Motabeng. She works as a vegetable gardener and battles intense, nightmarish delusions that she treats as a grueling quest for spiritual truth rather than a medical condition. Fiercely independent and deeply reflective, she seeks answers to universal questions about good and evil.

Sello is a spiritual mentor who appears in Elizabeth's internal world to guide her through her harrowing psychological journey. While there is a real family man named Sello in the village, the Sello in Elizabeth's mind is a powerful figure who advocates for meekness and profound self-awareness. He exposes Elizabeth to complex moral lessons about the nature of humanity.

Dan is an overwhelmingly tyrannical and hypersexual figure who invades Elizabeth's nightmarish visions. Modeled after a cattle millionaire in the village, this internal version of Dan constantly attacks Elizabeth's sanity and self-worth. He seeks to assert total dominance over Elizabeth's mind through psychological torture and crude displays of sexuality.

Medusa is a formidable, despotic woman who manifests in Elizabeth's internal journey. She uses her overwhelming sexuality and destructive thunderbolts to torture Elizabeth, attempting to assert dominance over Africa and drive Elizabeth away. She embodies chaos and abusive power.

The Small Boy is Elizabeth's young son, who symbolizes innocence and purity amidst his mother's turbulent spiritual battle. Untouched by the adult passions and nightmares that plague Elizabeth, his mind remains filled with rabbits, chocolates, and playtime friends. He provides an anchor of normalcy and straightforward curiosity in her life.

Kenosi is a reliable, steady woman from the village of Motabeng who becomes Elizabeth's close companion. She works diligently alongside Elizabeth in the vegetable garden and intuitively understands when to give Elizabeth space during her mental struggles. She represents the peaceful, grounding reality of the external world.

Tom is an idealistic, 22-year-old American Peace Corps volunteer with a degree in agriculture. He assists in the vegetable garden and frequently engages in deep, sometimes contentious philosophical and political discussions with Elizabeth. He offers steady friendship despite their ideological disagreements.

Eugene is the stoic Afrikaner principal of the Motabeng Secondary School. He is practical and deeply involved in local educational and agricultural projects, offering Elizabeth a position in the vegetable garden when she is unable to continue as a primary school teacher.

Birgette is a blond, unmarried math teacher who has taught in precarious places like Algeria. She provides a quiet contrast to the abrasive Camilla and quickly bonds with Elizabeth over shared theories on racism, victimhood, and human endurance.

Camilla is a Danish landscape gardener and assistant in Motabeng. She initially comes across as arrogant, racist, and condescending toward the local Black population, creating a tense atmosphere until her demeanor eventually softens.

Mrs. Jones is an older English volunteer who speaks in platitudes and used to be a Marxist. Elizabeth's internal delusions twist Mrs. Jones's identity, leading to a violent real-world confrontation between the two women.

Mrs. Stanley is a kind, accommodating woman in Motabeng who looks after Elizabeth's son while Elizabeth receives treatment. She spoils the boy with treats and toys, making him eager to stay with her.

The Nice-Time Girls are a collective of 71 sex workers summoned by Dan in Elizabeth's nightmarish visions. Given absurd, objectifying names like Miss Sewing-Machine and Madame Loose-Bottom, they are used by Dan to flaunt his sexuality and make Elizabeth feel inadequate.

Jimmy is Eugene's son, who quickly befriends Elizabeth's son. He exhibits a slightly rude, demanding attitude toward his mother but provides steady companionship for his new friend.

Thoko is a woman from the village who befriends Elizabeth and shares stories about the dangers of the African bush. Her vivid descriptions of wild animals spark Elizabeth's interest in the comparative safety of vegetable gardening.