Johannes is a young, slightly naive white-collar bookkeeper in Weimar-era Germany. He takes pride in his white-collar status despite his constant financial struggles. When his girlfriend becomes unexpectedly pregnant, he impulsively proposes marriage. He attempts to take on the traditional role of sole provider, moving to a small town to work at a grain business while trying to keep his new marriage a secret from an overbearing boss.

Emma is a young salesperson from a left-wing, blue-collar family. She marries Johannes after discovering she is pregnant with their child. She possesses strong convictions regarding labor solidarity and is fiercely determined to create a secure, loving environment for her future son. Unfamiliar with domestic tasks like cooking and budgeting, she initially struggles to adapt to her new role as a homemaker.

Holger is the charismatic romantic partner of Johannes's mother, Mia. He operates outside the boundaries of the law, running various schemes to acquire wealth. Despite his criminal inclinations, he demonstrates genuine empathy toward Johannes and Emma. He frequently offers them financial assistance and secures Johannes a job at a Berlin department store.

Joachim is a highly skilled and refined salesperson who works alongside Johannes at Mandel's department store. He displays a natural confidence that suggests a privileged background, and he eagerly mentors Johannes in closing sales. Behind his professional exterior, he harbors personal secrets regarding his lifestyle and recreational activities.

Mia is Johannes's estranged mother who resides in Berlin. She leads a chaotic lifestyle and relies on her tenants for income. Her unreliability, heavy drinking, and self-serving nature contrast sharply with the young couple's desire for stability and tradition.

Kleinholz is the demanding and volatile owner of a grain, animal feed, and fertilizer business in Ducherow. He actively pressures his single employees, particularly Johannes, to court his daughter. His heavy public drinking regularly creates trouble with his wife and impacts his business operations.

Lauterbach is a bored, aimless young man who works alongside Johannes at the grain business. Seeking purpose and an outlet for his frustrations, he joins the Nazi Party and frequently spends his weekends fighting with political opponents in the streets.

Schulz is a womanizing coworker of Johannes and Lauterbach at the grain business. He regularly deals with the personal fallout of his romantic exploits while trying to keep his demanding job under their unpredictable boss.

Emma's working-class mother handles the household chores and immediately suspects her daughter is pregnant before being told. She holds a generally low opinion of men and remains entirely unimpressed by her new son-in-law.

Emma's blue-collar father holds strong left-wing political views. He considers manual labor superior to office work and openly mocks Johannes's bookkeeping profession during their first meeting, referring to his union as a group of scabs.

Karl is Emma's brother, a factory worker who attends Communist Party meetings. He frequently clashes with his father over political strategies, accusing him of being a social fascist.

Mrs. Scharrenhofer is an elderly widow and Johannes and Emma's first landlady. The rapid hyperinflation of the German mark has severely affected her mental state, leaving her constantly crying over the inexplicable loss of her money's purchasing power.

Bergmann is Johannes's former employer and the Jewish owner of a menswear store. Johannes resigned from his shop after a petty argument with his wife, a decision he later regrets.

Emilie is Kleinholz's wife. She deeply resents her husband's public drinking and forces him to exert pressure on his employees to secure a respectable suitor for their daughter.

Maria is Kleinholz's daughter. Her parents aggressively attempt to arrange a marriage for her, using her father's authority over his employees as leverage to force a courtship.

Mr. Lehmann is a manager at Mandel's department store in Berlin. He offers Johannes a job despite the store not actively hiring, acting entirely on false information provided by Jachmann.

Kessler is a combative colleague of Johannes at Mandel's department store. He antagonizes Johannes by implying Emma is involved in scandalous newspaper advertisements, leading to a physical altercation.

Puttbreese is a carpenter and landlord who rents a small, illegal set of rooms to Johannes and Emma. His property sits hidden behind a furniture warehouse and a movie theater.

Markel is Johannes and Emma's baby son. The anticipation of his birth drives his parents to make hasty financial decisions and completely adjust their life priorities.