Gideon is a native African cook working on the Farquar family's rural farming compound. He is a devout Christian and a descendant of native healers, possessing deep knowledge of local herbal medicine. He shows immense affection for the Farquars' son, Teddy, affectionately calling him "Little Yellow Head." Despite this bond, Gideon is acutely aware of the racial and class divides imposed by apartheid, understanding that societal structures will eventually alter his dynamic with the boy.

Teddy is the only son of the Farquar family, growing up on an isolated farming compound. As a young child, he shares an innocent and loving bond with the household cook, Gideon. Once he reaches school age, Teddy begins to internalize the racist social structures of his environment. He starts adopting a sense of superiority over the native African staff and treating them differently than he did in his toddler years.

The Farquars are a wealthy white couple who own a farming compound and employ native African servants. They are devout Christians who believe it is the natural order for white people to dominate Black people. They consider themselves kind employers and share a seemingly warm relationship with Gideon, though their worldview remains rooted in colonial entitlement and the expectation of subservience.

The Scientist is a white researcher sent from the city to uncover the secret of the African root that cured Teddy's snakebite. He appeals to the Farquars' Christian beliefs to persuade them to share the remedy, though he is equally motivated by the potential financial profit of a new drug. He views native knowledge with a mixture of amusement and condescension, treating Gideon's heritage as an exploitable resource.

The Doctor is a white medical professional working in a large city away from the rural compounds. He represents Western medicine and capitalism, largely dismissing the stories of native African healing practices as unproven myths. Despite his skepticism, he remains curious enough about the financial and medical possibilities to send a researcher to investigate the claims.

Gideon's son is a young native African boy who lives on the Farquar compound with his family. He serves as an early playmate for Teddy before the social realities of their environment take hold. As the boys grow older, he experiences the harsh shift in Teddy's behavior firsthand, becoming an early target of the white boy's internalized superiority.