The sister of Masha, Olga and Andrei, and the youngest of this family, Irena is of the age where she's looking for love. Tuzenbach and Solyony are both in love with her and thus fight about this. Chebutykin discloses her as his favourite and Fyedotik and Rode bring her meaningless toys for gifts, which exposes her youth and playfulness. She is representative of the future and the virgin.

Masha Serghyeevna

The middle sister of this family, Masha is the quiet one. She is married to Kulyghin, however she has become bitter about her marriage, feeling as if she's grown apart from him because of her greater intelligence. When she falls in love with Vershinin she becomes aware of what true love is but relentlessly ends up with her husband. She is representative of the present and the mother.

Olga Serghyeevna

The eldest sister in the orphaned family, Olga becomes the inevitable carer of her brothers and sisters. Herself unmarried, she works for a living in a school. She finds herself by the end of the play meeting her unwanted fate to become headmistress. She is representative of past and the crone.

Natasha/Natalia Ivanova

Initially Natasha is the voice of the outsider, not able to fit into the family. However, she turns this into strength to control and manipulate her environment to her advantage. She is driven to Andrey by circumstance, and thus their marriage quickly becomes dispassionate. She soon has an affair with one of Andrey's colleagues. A manipulative and ambitious character.

Alexander Ignatyevich VERSHININ

A Battery commander from Moscow who knew the sisters when they were young. He has an instant connection with Masha, which turns into an affair. However he is married with two children, and wife who poisons herself all the time. He tends to philosophize, particularly with Tuzenbach. He is representative of hope.

Andrey Serghyevich PROZOROV

The brother in the family, he is somewhat out of the loop of the three sisters. He aspired to be professor but ended up being a member of the county council. He is often deceived by his wife and sadly realizes this. However, he seems to be manipulated by her often. He finds himself unable to escape his situation and thus develops a gambling problem. He ends up mortgaging the house without the sisters permission, much to his shame.

Vasilly Vassilich SOLYONY

He is a Captain in the army, though he embodies many evil and sadistic qualities. He's jealous and shy person. Yet he shows off to the point of self-confessed embarrassment, much to his dismay, when faced with social situations. A dueler and defender he takes his love for Irina to the point of murder.

Nikolai Lvovich TUZENBACH

A Lieutenant in the Army, Tuzenbach embodies many admirable qualities. He is warm, loyal and honest. He also philosophizes, like Vershinin, and quits the army to become a worker and marry Irena. He is the voice of revolution. He is a lover, not a fighter. But is tragically killed by Solyony.

Fiodor Ilyich KOLYGHIN

A master at the local high school, Kulyghin is a self-indulgent, conceited, and socially inept character. He is married to Masha, and praises her integrity throughout. However, he isn't completely oblivious to what occurs throughout the play, and sadly lives with the suspicion of what his wife is really experiencing. He is relieved when Vershinin finally leaves.

Ivan Romanych CHEBUTYKIN

A failed army doctor, Chebutykin fights throughout the play with alcoholism. An old family friend, Chebutykin holds the key to many stories of the past. He idolizes Irina as his favourite and clearly alludes to the lost love he had for their mother. This love was unreturned.

Ferapont Spiridonych

An old man who works for the county council, Ferapont is constantly chasing Andrei to get him to sign important papers. He is constantly forgotten and driven to more effort than an old man should ever have to face. His presence exposes the nature of many of the other characters.

Aleksey Petrovich FEDOTIK

A second Lieutenant in the army

Vladimir Karlovic RODÉ

A second Lieutenant in the army

Anfisa

An eighty-year old servant who has been working in the house for a long time and therefore maintains a particular connection and association with the family. Natasha tries to get rid of her, but Olga keeps her working, even though she is tired and weary.

Bobik

The first born son and child of Natasha and Andrey. Used by Natasha to manipulate the house.

Sofia

The first born daughter and second born child of Natasha and Andrey. Used by Natasha to manipulate Andrey.