Zarathustra is a hermit who lives in the mountains, gathering wisdom from his isolation until he feels he is overflowing with it. He decides to descend to the village of The Motley Cow to teach mankind about the overman. He rejects traditional religious and state structures, preferring to cultivate his own values and wander the earth. His journey consists of various encounters with individuals who challenge, mock, or follow his teachings.

The eagle is one of Zarathustra's two animal companions during his time in the mountains. It circles the air and represents the proudest animal under the sun. Alongside the snake, it acts as a scout and friendly presence for Zarathustra when he isolates himself from mankind.

The snake serves as Zarathustra's second animal companion, representing the wisest animal under the sun. Instead of acting as prey to the eagle, it travels as a friend. The snake helps care for Zarathustra during his sickness and encourages him to return to the outside world.

The old hermit is an elderly man who recognizes Zarathustra from years prior. He praises God instead of mankind and lives in quiet isolation. He warns Zarathustra to return to the woods, believing humanity only wants its burdens lifted rather than accepting new wisdom.

The tightrope walker is an entertainer performing in the village of The Motley Cow. He becomes nervous during Zarathustra's speech, assuming the words are about him. His performance is interrupted by a chaotic jester, leading to a fatal fall.

The jester is a chaotic performer who suddenly interrupts the tightrope act. He yells insults and leaps over the performer, causing him to lose his balance. He later threatens Zarathustra in the dark, claiming the townspeople despise the hermit's teachings.

The little person is a small, mocking figure who burdens Zarathustra as he climbs a steep mountain. He taunts Zarathustra about gravity and the inevitability of falling. He challenges Zarathustra at a gateway where the eternal paths of the past and future intersect.

The soothsayer is a gloomy prophet who drains Zarathustra's spirit by preaching that all life is empty and identical. His negative worldview plunges Zarathustra into a fasting depression. He later visits Zarathustra's cave to tempt him with pity for the distress of others.

The two kings are monarchs adorned with crowns and purple sashes who wander the mountains. They abandon their formal society because they find its forced manners and false nobility disgusting. They search for the higher man and gladly accept Zarathustra's invitation to his cave.

The conscientious spirit is a man who intentionally allows leeches to bite his arm in a swamp. He restricts his learning solely to the brain of the leech, preferring total mastery of a tiny subject over vague illusions of greatness.

The magician is an actor who thrashes on the ground, pretending an unknown god is torturing him. When Zarathustra beats him with a stick, he drops the act and admits he is weary of his own deceptions. He genuinely desires to learn honesty from Zarathustra.

The retired priest is a sorrowful man who wanders the forest after the death of the God he used to serve. Lost and without a master, he seeks out Zarathustra, believing him to be the most pious non-believer alive.

The ugliest human being hides in a desolate area. He claims responsibility for murdering God, stating he could not endure an all-seeing witness who constantly pitied his physical and spiritual shame.

The voluntary beggar is a peaceful man who gave away his great wealth to escape the greed of the rabble. He lives among a herd of cows, trying to learn their slow, patient habit of chewing cud to find happiness on earth.

The shadow is a hollow, exhausted wanderer who constantly follows Zarathustra's footsteps. By molding his identity entirely around Zarathustra's teachings, he loses his own sense of self, direction, and home.