The unnamed 25-year-old narrator is a graduate student engaged in an affair with her thesis advisor. She feels dependent on his academic approval and validates herself through their romance. She actively measures her intellect against his wife and her own family, frequently comparing her romantic devotion to political patriotism.

Peter is a 46-year-old professor of classical history and a married father of three. He takes a condescending tone toward his much younger student and mistress, frequently correcting her historical knowledge. He uses his academic authority to maintain control in their dynamic, holding the power to evaluate both her intellect and her thesis.

Mrs. Piper is a swimming coach who has been married to Peter for 24 years. Though she does not physically appear in Sarajevo, she acts as the central obstacle to the couple's affair. The narrator characterizes her entirely through a competitive lens, dismissing her domestic interests to feel superior.

Clare is the narrator's 23-year-old younger sister. She is highly capable, having already graduated university and secured a husband. Her perceived perfection drives her older sister's insecurities, as the narrator desperately seeks her approval while silently critiquing her domestic life.

Two local restaurant workers who attend to the couple during their meal. The first is a young, handsome man who catches the narrator's eye. The second is an older server whose perceived judgmental glare makes the tourists' age gap uncomfortably apparent.