Grusha is a young, kind kitchen maid working in the Governor's palace in Grusinia. When a violent coup erupts, her strong moral compass and compassionate nature compel her to rescue the abandoned infant heir. She is fiercely protective, resourceful, and willing to endure significant hardship, including poverty, perilous journeys, and a marriage of convenience, to ensure the child's safety.

The Singer, also known as Arkadi Cheidze, is a storyteller and the narrator of the play's central parable. He bridges the framing narrative of the valley dispute with the inner play about the chalk circle. Serving as a guide for the audience, he occasionally speaks on behalf of characters during moments of emotional distress to maintain objective distance and prompts critical thought about justice and ownership.

The Governor's Wife is a wealthy, self-absorbed aristocrat who prioritizes her material possessions over her family. During a violent uprising, she is so fixated on packing her fine dresses that she abandons her infant son. She embodies the greed and entitlement of the upper class, eventually seeking to reclaim her child primarily to secure his vast inheritance.

Azdak is an eccentric, crude, and often drunken village clerk who accidentally maneuvers himself into the position of Judge. Despite accepting bribes and utilizing highly unconventional court methods, his rulings consistently favor the impoverished working class. He represents a flawed but deeply necessary agent of equity in a corrupt society.

Michael is the infant son and heir of the Governor and his wife. Abandoned during a violent coup, he is rescued and raised by the kitchen maid Grusha. Though he has no lines and is often carried or led by others, he serves as the central focal point of the play's primary conflict regarding true parenthood, love, and inheritance.

The Fat Prince is a deceitful and ambitious aristocrat who orchestrates a violent coup against the Governor. He utilizes a militant group known as the Ironshirts to seize power and ruthlessly hunts down the infant heir to secure his dominance. He embodies the violent shifts in political power that terrorize the working class.

The Corporal is a crude, brutal, and nationalistic leader of the Ironshirts acting under the Fat Prince's orders. He revels in violence, demands enthusiastic cruelty from his subordinates, and persistently hunts Grusha and the baby across the mountains, resulting in a physical confrontation.

Simon is a soldier in the service of the Governor who falls deeply in love with Grusha. He is loyal and traditional, holding onto a promise to marry Grusha when he returns from the war. His rigid expectations clash with the complicated reality Grusha faces while trying to protect her adopted child, testing the resilience of his affection.

Lavrenti is Grusha's brother, a farmer living in the mountains. While he genuinely cares for his sister and provides her temporary shelter, he is cowardly and easily pressured by his wife and societal expectations. To protect his own reputation and appease his wife, he orchestrates an unappealing marriage of convenience for Grusha.

The Sister-in-Law is Lavrenti's wife, a highly anxious and status-conscious woman. She is fearful of illness and scandal, reacting coldly to Grusha and the baby. Her relentless questioning and fear of societal judgment force Lavrenti to quickly find a way to legitimize Grusha's presence in their village.

Governor Georgi Abashvili is the immensely wealthy ruler of Grusinia who neglects his suffering populace in favor of indulging his heir. His ignorance and corrupt governance lead to a violent uprising, resulting in his swift execution at the hands of the Fat Prince's mutineers.

Yussup is a local man who feigns a fatal illness for over a year to avoid being drafted into the war. He serves as a convenient paper husband for Grusha until the war ends, at which point he miraculously recovers. He is irritable, demanding, and frustrated by Grusha's refusal to consummate their marriage.

The Peasant Woman is a mountain resident who reluctantly takes in baby Michael. Though initially agreeing to help Grusha hide the child's identity from the pursuing Ironshirts, her fear for her own safety and property causes her to immediately betray Grusha to the Corporal.

The Cook is a former coworker of Grusha's from the Governor's palace. He acts as a loyal friend, offering to testify falsely on her behalf to ensure she retains custody of Michael. He provides Grusha with context about Azdak's unpredictable nature on the bench.

The Grand Duke is the highest ruler of the land who is overthrown during the initial rebellion. Forced to hide as a beggar, he is unwittingly saved by Azdak. Upon returning to power, he rewards Azdak's inadvertent protection by formally appointing him as Judge.

The Expert is a government official tasked with overseeing the resettlement of land after the departure of the Nazis. He acts as a facilitator, informing the disputing villagers that they must decide among themselves who has the right to the valley.