Solange is a maid in her early 30s working in the lavish home of Madame. She is Claire's older sister and shares a cramped, utilitarian servant's room with her. Consumed by feelings of filth and lowliness tied to her profession, Solange harbors a deep-seated anger toward her employer. She participates in elaborate roleplaying rituals with her sister to vent her frustrations.

Claire is the younger sister of Solange, also in her early 30s, working as a live-in maid for Madame. She possesses a rich imagination and writes fantasy stories in secret letters, dreaming of escaping her life of drudgery. While she shares her sister's resentment of their social standing, Claire is drawn to the glamor and romance of Madame's lifestyle, often wanting to emulate her rather than just destroy her.

Madame is a beautiful, wealthy socialite around 25 years old who employs Claire and Solange. She lives a luxurious, materialistic lifestyle that directly contrasts with the austere conditions of her maids. Though she considers herself a kind and generous employer, she remains completely oblivious to her maids' true feelings and the harsh realities of their existence.

Monsieur is Madame's lover, a man recently arrested and jailed for an unspecified crime involving money and theft. His imprisonment sets off a wave of dramatic reactions in the household, from Madame's despair to the maids' scheming. He represents the romantic and social privilege that the maids despise.

Mario is a young milkman who visits the maids' quarters at night. He is a crass figure who makes suggestive comments to both Solange and Claire. His presence in their lives serves as one of their few interactions with men, becoming a bitter point of jealousy between the two sisters.