Antigone is a serious, intense young woman who operates purely on instinct and a deep sense of moral conscience. As the daughter of the late King Oedipus, she feels a strict religious and ethical duty to bury her brother, Polynices, despite her uncle Creon's decree that doing so carries a death sentence. She rejects traditional expectations of beauty and feminine pragmatism, finding strength instead in her incorruptible principles and willingness to resist unjust authority.

Creon is the gray-haired, powerfully built King of Thebes who assumed the throne following the violent deaths of his nephews. He views himself as a pragmatic captain steering a sinking ship, believing that strict civil obedience and political order must supersede personal morality or religious tradition. To maintain control and set an example for his citizens, he decrees that the body of his nephew Polynices must be left to rot in the sun.

Unlike a traditional multi-person Greek chorus, Anouilh’s Chorus is portrayed by a single omniscient figure. He serves as a meta-theatrical narrator who directly addresses the audience to explain the mechanics of tragedy and the unchangeable nature of fate. While initially functioning as a detached observer, he eventually attempts to intercede in the events unfolding onstage.

Ismene is Antigone’s younger sister, characterized by her golden hair and traditional beauty. She is highly pragmatic, preferring to carefully think things through and prioritize a safe, happy life over making a political or religious statement. She deeply fears Creon's wrath and the mob violence of the citizens, leading her to initially refuse any part in burying their brother.

Haemon is the athletic, earnest son of King Creon and the betrothed of Antigone. Although he initially spent an evening dancing with the beautiful Ismene, he actively chose to propose to Antigone because he admires her quiet strength and authenticity. He loves her deeply and finds himself caught between his devotion to her and the uncompromising laws of his father.

The Nurse is an older, maternal caretaker who raised Antigone and Ismene after the deaths of King Oedipus and Queen Jocasta. She fusses constantly over their physical appearances and behavior, expecting them to act like proper young ladies. Despite her harsh scolding, her physical presence offers Antigone a profound sense of childhood safety and comfort in frightening moments.

Queen Eurydice is Creon's wife and Haemon's mother. She is a quiet, gracious lady who spends her time knitting. Her constant knitting serves as a visual symbol for the thread of life and fate, echoing the Greek mythological figures who spin and measure human destiny.

Private Jonas is one of the guards ordered to watch over the unburied corpse of Polynices. He is motivated by self-preservation, steady pay, and a healthy fear of authority. He represents the indifferent, order-following personnel who enable political dictatorships without questioning the morality of their assigned duties.

Polynices is the dead brother of Antigone and Ismene. He died in a violent duel with his brother Eteocles over the throne of Thebes. King Creon considers him a traitor and a thug, decreeing that his body must be left to rot in the open air as a brutal political warning to the citizens.

Eteocles is the brother of Antigone and Ismene who died fighting Polynices for control of Thebes. Unlike Polynices, Creon granted Eteocles a proper hero's burial with state honors, though Creon privately admits to Antigone that both brothers were equally vicious and corrupt.

The Page is a young attendant who shadows King Creon throughout his daily routine. He is present during key meetings and administrative moments, silently observing the harsh realities and difficult decisions of Creon's rulership.

The Messenger is a pale, solitary young man. Following the structural rules of classical Greek theater, his sole narrative purpose is to wait patiently until the end of the play to rush onstage and recount dramatic, offstage events to the remaining characters.