Orestes is the son of Agamemnon who recently murdered his mother, Clytemnestra, to avenge his father's death. He acted on orders from the god Apollo and now faces severe consequences including physical wasting and deep remorse, as well as terrifying visions of the Furies. Shunned by the citizens of Argos, he desperately hopes his uncle Menelaus will intervene before the city council votes on his execution.

Electra is the devoted sister of Orestes and shares his status as a condemned outcast in Argos. She acts as his primary nurse and isolates herself to manage his fits of madness and despair. Her tender care for her brother sits alongside a fierce resentment toward the older generation, particularly her aunt Helen.

Helen is the wife of Menelaus and the famously beautiful woman whose departure for Troy sparked a massive, catastrophic war. She returns to Argos under the cover of night to avoid the wrath of locals who lost family members in the conflict. She presents a gentle, conciliatory demeanor. She attributes her past actions to divine forces and offers pity to her disgraced niece and nephew.

Menelaus is the king of Sparta and brother to the slain Agamemnon. He returns home weary from the Trojan War. He attempts to manage the volatile political situation in Argos through diplomacy rather than military force. He expresses compassion for his nephew's plight but remains highly cautious about angering the local mob or his furious father-in-law.

Tyndareus is the aged grandfather of Orestes and father to the slain Clytemnestra. He is furious over his daughter's extrajudicial murder and argues passionately for the rule of law over blood vengeance. He uses his considerable political influence in Argos to ensure his grandchildren face strict legal punishment for their crimes.

Pylades is Orestes's most devoted friend. He assisted him in the retaliatory murder of Clytemnestra and was banished by his own father for his participation in the crime. He flatly refuses to abandon his friends and prefers to face absolute ruin alongside them.

Hermione is the young daughter of Helen and Menelaus. She spent the duration of the Trojan War being raised in Argos by her aunt Clytemnestra. She is innocent of the political machinations surrounding her, demonstrating obedience to her parents and concern for her troubled cousins.

The Chorus consists of local women from Argos who are sympathetic to Electra and Orestes. They provide emotional support and act as a sounding board for the siblings, expressing horror at the family's curse. Their collective perspective often mirrors the easily swayed nature of a crowd, offering pity while fearing the political fallout.

Agamemnon is the slain king of Argos and commander of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Murdered by his wife upon his return home, his death creates the demand for vengeance that destroys his son's life. He serves as a symbol of old-world honor that the younger generation desperately tries to appease.

Clytemnestra is the recently deceased mother of Orestes and Electra, and the daughter of Tyndareus. Her murder of her husband, Agamemnon, and her subsequent death at the hands of her son set the entire crisis of the play into motion. Though she does not appear living, her presence dictates the physical and political torment of her children.

Apollo is the god of prophecy who explicitly commanded Orestes to avenge his father by killing his mother. Though not physically present early on, his divine mandate hangs over the characters, creating a profound crisis of faith and justice. He represents the terrifying authority of the gods whose laws often contradict mortal morality.