The current King of Thebes, Oedipus is a beloved, wise, and empathetic ruler who previously saved the city by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. He is an obsessive riddle-solver with a deep sense of responsibility toward his citizens, promising to cure the horrific plague that currently blights their crops and families. Determined to restore health to his kingdom, he dedicates himself entirely to tracking down the murderer of the former king. He acts quickly on his promises, sending envoys to oracles and summoning prophets, though his intense drive for the truth sometimes turns into aggressive paranoia.

The Queen of Thebes is a pragmatic woman who has experienced significant tragedy, including the unsolved murder of her first husband. She views prophecies with deep skepticism based on her past experiences with oracles, preferring to believe that chance rules human lives. She attempts to act as a stabilizing force in the royal palace, urging moderation and trying to calm her husband during his frantic investigation. Even as the inquiry unearths unsettling details about the past, she tries to maintain order and protect her current family from unnecessary distress.

Jocasta's brother is a pragmatic nobleman who enjoys the privileges of royalty without desiring the burdensome responsibilities of the crown. He acts as a trusted envoy for the royal family, traveling to Delphi to bring back crucial news from the oracle regarding the city's plague. When the murder investigation turns paranoid, he finds himself forced to defend his loyalty and honor against sudden accusations of treason. He relies on rational arguments and his past record of steadfast friendship to prove he has no desire to usurp the throne.

A wise, old, and physically blind prophet who speaks directly for the god Apollo. He possesses deep, divinely inspired knowledge about the history and fate of the city. Despite his ability to see the truth of the gods, he is highly reluctant to share his visions with the royal family, knowing the immense pain his words will cause. When pushed and insulted by the royal court, however, his stubborn silence transforms into sharp, fiery condemnation, proving he is not afraid to challenge earthly authority.

Representing the collective voice of the Theban citizens, this group observes and reacts to the unfolding investigation. They are deeply loyal to their king for saving them from the Sphinx, yet they maintain a reverent, trembling fear of the gods and their dark prophecies. They serve to mediate the intense conflicts between the royal figures and offer collective prayers for the city's salvation. As the investigation introduces terrifying new evidence, they voice the audience's growing anxieties about fate, divine power, and the limits of human understanding.

The former King of Thebes who ruled before the current crisis. He was killed at a crossroads in Phocis while traveling to visit an oracle. The investigation into his unsolved murder, which was reportedly carried out by a band of thieves, drives the central conflict of the city's current plague.

The King of Corinth who raised the current ruler of Thebes. News of his life and health directly affects how prophecies are interpreted in the royal palace.

A Dorian woman and the Queen of Corinth. She raised her son alongside King Polybus in the royal palace, though her son stays far away from her to avoid fulfilling a dark prophecy.

A traveler from Corinth who arrives at the palace with news regarding royal succession. He holds specific knowledge about past events, having crossed paths with a Theban shepherd on Mount Cithaeron many years ago.

A former servant of the deceased king and the sole surviving eyewitness to the attack at the crossroads. After a new king was crowned, he begged to be sent away to live quietly in the countryside. He holds crucial information about the past but is incredibly evasive and terrified to speak.

An old religious figure who acts as a representative for the suffering citizens of Thebes at the beginning of the play. He details the plague, famine, and sickness besetting the city, appealing directly to the crown for salvation.

The god of the sun, light, poetry, and prophecy. Though he does not physically appear on stage, his decrees from the oracle at Delphi and his divine will drive the entire investigation into the unsolved murder. He represents the massive force of destiny hanging over the mortal characters.

The young children of the royal household. They are innocent members of the palace, deeply loved by their father, who worries constantly about their future in a cursed city.