Odysseus is the Greek king of Ithaca, currently struggling to return home after fighting in the Trojan War. Driven off course by a storm, he lands in Sicily and seeks provisions for his crew. He is a cunning, persuasive leader who relies on his rhetorical skills and cleverness to survive danger. His confident demeanor sometimes borders on arrogance, especially regarding his assumption of divine favor.

Polyphemus is a gigantic, one-eyed Cyclops and the son of the sea god Poseidon. He lives an uncultured, pastoral life in a cave beneath Mount Etna in Sicily, relying on his brute strength rather than agriculture or laws. He possesses a massive appetite for meat and openly mocks the traditional Greek gods, claiming to worship only wealth and his own belly.

Silenus is the eldest of the satyrs and a longtime devotee of the wine god Dionysus. Shipwrecked on Sicily while pursuing pirates, he is currently forced to serve as the caretaker of Polyphemus's cave. He is an opportunistic survivor who frequently inflates his own heroic past, yet quickly resorts to cowardice, deception, and self-serving behavior when physically threatened.

The Chorus consists of half-human, half-animal followers of Dionysus who are currently enslaved by Polyphemus to herd his sheep. They are a rowdy, immature group who greatly prefer drinking and dancing over hard labor. While they enthusiastically agree to scheme against their captor, they easily frighten when faced with direct confrontation.