Helen is a widowed estate owner preparing to dedicate an orphanage in honor of her late husband. She manages the family's finances and reputation, having spent years attempting to maintain appearances and hide her deep unhappiness. She reads secular philosophy and seeks to separate herself from the strict, traditional expectations that defined her earlier years.

Oswald is a young artist who returns to his childhood home in Norway after living abroad in Paris. He holds liberal views regarding marriage and cohabitation, bringing him into direct conflict with the traditional values of his community. He suffers from a severe physical illness and desperately wants to find someone to care for him.

Pastor Manders is a local religious leader and long-time business advisor to the Alving family. He represents traditional religious and social conventions, prioritizing outward reputation and propriety above all else. He is rigid in his beliefs and frequently judges others while failing to see his own flaws.

Jacob is a local carpenter who recently finished building the orphanage on the Alving estate. He presents a humble, pious front to figures of authority, masking a shrewd and manipulative nature. He plans to use the funds he earns to further his own ambitions and open a sailors' inn.

Regina is a young maid working in the Alving household who harbors ambitions of rising above her working-class background. Because of her refined upbringing under Helen's roof, she peppers her speech with French phrases and desires a life of independence. She actively rejects the constraints her father attempts to place on her.