Olga is a healthy, young provincial woman who lives on property she inherited from her late father. The townspeople affectionately call her "darling" due to her pliant, selfless, and extremely docile personality. She possesses an overwhelming, deep-rooted need to love and care for others, which causes her to entirely adopt the opinions, passions, and habits of the people to whom she becomes attached. She lacks independent interests, relying completely on her partners to provide her with a sense of identity and purpose.

Ivan is a lodger on Olga's property who manages the Tivoli amusement garden. He is a highly neurotic, pessimistic man who constantly worries about the public's lack of interest in the theater. He views everything, from the weather to his customers, as active threats to his financial survival. His constant state of anxiety and hyperbolic complaining draw Olga's deep sympathy.

Vassily is a sober, serious lumberyard manager who dresses well, resembling a wealthy landowner more than a typical merchant. He is deeply religious and views frivolous entertainment, like the theater, as a waste of time. He prefers a quiet, orderly life centered exclusively around his business, his meals, and his church attendance.

Vladimir is a practical and fiercely independent regimental veterinarian. Unlike other men in Olga's life, he lives an itinerant lifestyle due to his military postings. He is separated from his unfaithful wife, though he continues to send money to support their young son. He is highly protective of his professional dignity and easily embarrassed when others speak ignorantly about veterinary science.

Sasha is Vladimir's nine-year-old son, characterized as a robust, plump boy with bright eyes and dimpled cheeks. As he attends school and lives on the property, he becomes the sole focus of Olga's overwhelming affection. He enjoys childhood activities but increasingly displays a desire for independence, sometimes finding his caregiver's intense attention embarrassing or restrictive.