Brand

Brand is depicted as an unwavering young priest with a mission to heal the world from its triple afflictions: faintheartedness, frivolity, and impulsiveness. He demands absolute commitment from his followers, advocating an "all or nothing" philosophy. This conviction is tested when he is faced with the potential deaths of his son and later, his wife, Agnes. Despite the personal cost, he remains committed to his faith and calls on the people to join him in ascending the mountain to a new life of devotion to God. As the journey becomes increasingly arduous, his followers abandon him, leaving only Gerd, who perceives him as a Christ-like figure, marked by metaphorical stigmata.

Agnes

Agnes, the devoted wife of Brand, embodies the challenge Brand poses to himself and others: the choice between absolute duty and personal life. She supports Brand's decision to prioritize his spiritual mission over their life together and dies shortly after his choice is made. Her presence continues to influence Brand's decisions even after her death, as she appears in visions urging him to reconsider his rigid beliefs.

A Peasant

The peasant serves as a representation of the fainthearted, unwilling to sacrifice his own life to save his daughter. This character illustrates the pervasive fear and reluctance to engage in complete faith or sacrifice, contrasting with Brand's relentless commitment.

Einar

Einar begins as a lighthearted artist, engaged to Agnes. After she marries Brand and adopts his austere lifestyle, Einar spirals into a life of hedonism before eventually converting to faith through the guidance of nuns. He becomes a missionary, renouncing his past ways and warning Brand that his belief in the supremacy of human will over faith in the divine damns him, highlighting his own transformation from human-centered to God-centered belief.

Gerd

Gerd, a gypsy girl with a troubled past, is symbolic of the uncontrolled. She is the daughter of a man spurned by Brand's mother and is taken care of by the villagers. Gerd appears when Brand struggles with his convictions, inspiring him to adhere to his strict moral code. In her religious visions, she sees Brand as Christ and hunts the hawk of compromise, symbolizing her rejection of concessions. Her final act—shooting the hawk in the Ice-Church—triggers an avalanche that leads to both her and Brand's deaths.

The Mother

Brand's mother is a figure of resistance to Brand's demands for total sacrifice. Despite her son's insistence that she give away all her possessions for charity, she offers only nine-tenths, which Brand rejects. She dies unrepentant, having refused last rites rather than yield to Brand's demands. Her history of suffering to acquire wealth adds complexity to her refusal, highlighting a clash between personal history and uncompromising ideals.

The Doctor

The doctor challenges Brand's stringent doctrine when attending to Brand's mother and son. He warns Brand that to save his son, relocation to a warmer climate is necessary—a suggestion Brand initially consents to in a rare moment of weakness. However, accused of hypocrisy by the doctor, he reaffirms his commitment to his faith, choosing to remain despite the consequences. The doctor's criticism underscores the human cost of Brand's rigid beliefs.

The Mayor

The mayor is a member of Brand's community whose role is minimally described, but he is involved in the governance and oversight of the village's affairs alongside the dean and other officials.

The Dean

The dean serves as an intermediary between Brand and the societal expectations of the state. He advises Brand to moderate his sermons, which he finds too severe for the community's needs. When Brand refuses, the dean, aligned with the sheriff, reclaims the disillusioned...