Lane is a successful doctor in her mid-fifties who shares a meticulously decorated, all-white house with her husband. She thrives on order and control, viewing her home as a sanitary refuge from the medical emergencies of her hospital work. Frustrated by her new maid's refusal to perform basic household duties, Lane prefers to keep her environment spotless and avoids dealing with personal emotions.

Matilde is a twenty-seven-year-old Brazilian woman who has recently immigrated to the United States following the sudden deaths of her parents. Hired as a live-in maid by Lane, Matilde is severely depressed and actively refuses to do her job. Instead, she considers herself a comedian and spends her days conceptualizing jokes in Portuguese and searching for the perfect punchline.

Virginia is Lane's older sister, a housewife in her late fifties who finds immense satisfaction and emotional regulation in cleaning. Beneath her tidy exterior, she harbors deep loneliness and dissatisfaction with her daily routine, struggling to fill her empty hours. She views dirt as a problem to be solved and becomes fascinated by the untidiness of her sister's household.

Charles is a highly successful surgeon in his mid-fifties, married to Lane. Deeply dedicated to his medical practice, he spends long hours at the hospital performing surgeries, leaving little time for his home life. He views love through a pragmatic lens and prides himself on his sense of justice, though his encounters with his patients challenge his rigidly ordered existence.

Ana is a vibrant, elegant Argentinian woman who is approximately ten years older than Charles and Lane. Diagnosed with breast cancer, she approaches her illness with a defiant fatalism, prioritizing her bodily autonomy over prolonged hospital treatments. As a widow, she has lived a passionate life and remains unapologetically expressive.

Matilde's mother was a fiercely funny Brazilian woman who waited until late in life to marry a man who could match her humor. Her joyful, raucous laughter defined her marriage and her life. She appears in Matilde's memories and fantasies, representing an idealized vision of passionate love.

Matilde's father was a Brazilian man who refused to settle down until he found a woman funnier than himself. He dedicated an entire year to crafting the perfect joke for his wife as an anniversary gift. He appears in the story through Matilde's recollections of her childhood.