At 28 years old, Olga is the eldest of the Prozorov siblings and works as a teacher at a local girls' school. The continuous labor of her profession frequently induces headaches and drains her energy, leaving her feeling aged beyond her years. She acts as the moderate, practical voice among her siblings, frequently indulging in nostalgic memories of their former life in Moscow. She strongly desires marriage and often acts as a caretaker for her family and household staff.

Masha is the middle Prozorov sister, known for her pessimistic and frequently irritable outlook. She married a high school teacher at the age of 18, mistakenly believing him to be a brilliant intellectual at the time. Now older, she suffers from extreme boredom and disappointment in her provincial life. A talented pianist, she currently suppresses her artistic abilities due to her stifling rural environment.

Irina is the youngest Prozorov sibling and begins the story full of hope and idealism. She believes that finding physical labor is the secret to a fulfilling life and intends to seek employment at the local telegraph office to cure her restlessness. Like her sisters, she deeply romanticizes the city of Moscow and believes she will find true love once the family finally relocates there.

Andrey is the introverted fourth Prozorov sibling, heavily burdened by his family's expectations that he will become a prominent university professor in Moscow. He spends most of his time isolated in his room, studying, building picture frames, or playing his violin to avoid the constant influx of military guests. He speaks several languages but feels this education is wasted in their rural town.

Natasha is a local woman from a lower social class who initially seeks acceptance from the educated Prozorov sisters. After marrying Andrey, she sheds her meekness to assume dictatorial control over the household. She is intensely protective of her children and relentlessly imposes her will on the aristocratic family, rearranging their living spaces to suit her preferences.

Vershinin is a lieutenant colonel from Moscow who quickly becomes a frequent visitor at the Prozorov home. He is trapped in a miserable marriage to a woman who frequently attempts suicide, leaving him deeply unsatisfied with his domestic life. He shares the sisters' tendency to philosophize extensively about the future and the meaning of human existence.

Tusenbach is an army lieutenant in his late twenties who comes from a life of privileged nobility. He is deeply in love with Irina and shares her initial, romanticized belief that physical labor is the ultimate source of human happiness. To prove his devotion and find purpose, he plans to resign from his military commission to become a civilian worker in a brick factory.

Kulygin is a local high school teacher and Masha's husband. He relentlessly professes his absolute satisfaction with his life, willfully ignoring his wife's obvious misery and irritation. He maintains a cheerful, sometimes foolish demeanor, desperately attempting to preserve the public image of a perfect marriage.

Solyony is an abrasive, socially inept army captain who tags along to the Prozorovs' gatherings. He consistently makes vulgar, unprovoked statements that create uncomfortable silences among the polite company. Beneath his aggressive exterior, he harbors a volatile infatuation with Irina and reacts with hostility toward any perceived competitors for her affection.

Chebutykin is an aging military doctor who treats the Prozorov siblings as his surrogate family, having once been deeply in love with their late mother. He freely admits that he has not read a medical book or done serious work since leaving medical school decades ago. He gifts Irina an embarrassingly expensive silver samovar for her birthday, demonstrating his lack of social boundaries.

Anfisa is the Prozorov family's eighty-year-old nurse, having served them continuously for thirty years. She is deeply loyal to the siblings but faces intense cruelty and the threat of dismissal from Natasha, who views the aging servant as a useless drain on the household's resources.

Ferapont is an aging, hard-of-hearing watchman for the local district council. Because he cannot hear well, Andrey frequently uses him as an unwitting sounding board for his private frustrations and dashed academic hopes, talking to the old man simply because he cannot interject or judge.

Fedotik is a young military officer stationed in the provincial town who frequently visits the Prozorov home. He is enthusiastic and observant, often taking photographs of the group and presenting small gifts to the sisters to document their gatherings.

Rode is another young military officer in the local brigade. He is an amiable presence at the sisters' house, contributing to the lively, crowded atmosphere of their social events and engaging in the officers' musical and conversational pastimes.