Tevye is a poor dairy farmer living in the Russian village of Anatevka. He works tirelessly to feed his wife and five daughters while striving to uphold strict Jewish customs and his role as the master of the house. He frequently speaks directly to God, asking for relief from poverty and guidance in a changing world where new ideas challenge his beliefs.

Golde is Tevye’s practical and hardworking wife who manages the endless household chores. She believes strongly in traditional arranged marriages and relies on the village matchmaker to secure stable, financially secure futures for her daughters. Though she outwardly defers to Tevye's position as the head of the house, she largely runs the family through quiet assertion and occasional manipulation.

Tzeitel is the oldest daughter of Tevye and Golde. She feels the heavy pressure of impending adulthood, fearing that the village matchmaker will pair her with an elderly or unappealing man simply because he has money. She harbors a quiet affection for a poor tailor but feels bound by the requirement to wait for her father's arranged match.

Hodel is the second-oldest daughter of the family. She possesses a sharp wit and intelligence, openly questioning the strict interpretations of village customs. When a young university scholar arrives in Anatevka, she quickly engages him in spirited debates about tradition, education, and the changing political climate in Russia.

Chava is the bookish and shy middle daughter. She spends her time reading and initially accepts her parents' traditional plans for her future. Her intellectual curiosity eventually draws the attention of a Russian youth, bridging the dangerous cultural divide between the Jewish villagers and the surrounding Russian population.

Shprintze is the second-youngest daughter of Tevye and Golde. As a child, she largely follows her parents' instructions and sits in on the academic lessons provided by the family's new tutor. She has not yet reached the age where tradition dictates she must find a husband.

Bielke is the youngest daughter in the household. Along with her sister Shprintze, she represents the distant future of the family, spending her days playing and receiving basic tutoring from a university student.

Yente is the village matchmaker. She views marriage as a practical transaction necessary for the survival and growth of the Jewish community. A talkative meddler and constant source of gossip, she expects young people to accept her pairings without complaint and views the concept of romantic love as irrelevant.

Motel is a poor, timid tailor who has been friends with Tzeitel since childhood. He lacks the confidence to approach Tevye directly, fearing rejection due to his meager income and low status in the village. He dreams of one day owning a sewing machine to elevate his trade.

Perchik is a university student from Kiev who arrives in Anatevka with radical, socialist views. He challenges the villagers to look beyond their isolated traditions and recognize the broader political struggles happening in Russia. He agrees to tutor Tevye's younger daughters in exchange for food.

Lazar Wolf is the wealthy village butcher. He is much older than Tevye's daughters but desires a young bride to keep his house following the death of his first wife. His wealth makes him an attractive prospect to Golde and the matchmaker, though Tevye dislikes his unscholarly nature.

Mordcha runs the local inn where the men of Anatevka gather to drink, sing, and discuss news. He acts as a peacekeeper during village disputes and oversees local celebrations.

The Rabbi is the spiritual leader of Anatevka. He is highly respected by the villagers, who seek his advice on all matters of faith and tradition, though he tends to offer slow, non-committal answers to complex questions.

Mendel is the Rabbi's son and caretaker. He strictly adheres to holy texts and is quick to label outsiders or new ideas as radical, often acting as a conservative voice against any deviation from tradition.

Avram is the village bookseller. He reads outside news and informs the community about the troubling actions taken against Jewish populations in other regions, keeping Anatevka connected to the broader world.

Nachum is the town beggar. The village considers his presence an expected part of the community structure, with the wealthier members providing him alms as part of their religious duty.

Grandma Tzeitel is Golde’s deceased grandmother. She is brought up in a fabricated dream to influence the family's matchmaking decisions by supposedly endorsing a poor tailor over a wealthy butcher.

Fruma-Sarah is Lazar Wolf’s late first wife. Described as a bitter woman in life, she is imagined as a vengeful spirit in a ghost story used to frighten Golde out of a marriage arrangement.

The Constable is a Russian police officer. He maintains a polite but tense relationship with Tevye, carrying out official orders that threaten the safety of the Jewish villagers while claiming a personal fondness for them.

Fyedka is a young Russian Christian. He stands out from his peers by defending a Jewish girl from harassment, seeking to connect with her over a shared interest in literature rather than focusing on their cultural divide.

Shaindel is Motel’s mother. She supports her son's trade and hopes for his success in the village, remaining proud of him even when he takes an unconventional path to marriage.

The Fiddler is a silent figure who plays music from the rooftops. He represents the precarious balance of the villagers' lives as they try to maintain their traditions and find joy in a dangerous, changing world.