Macilente

Macilente, characterized by his malcontent nature, is deeply envious of those around him. He seethes at the frivolous excesses of his contemporaries and indulges in spiteful pranks against them. However, once he sees his conspiracies come to fruition and his acquaintances are sufficiently humiliated, Macilente finds himself strangely relieved of his envy.

Carlo Buffone

Carlo Buffone is notorious for his foulmouthed jesting, launching indiscriminate verbal attacks at those around him. His sharp tongue eventually leads to a dramatic downfall when his mouth is sealed with hot sealing wax, trapping his words in his beard as a consequence of his unrestrained insults.

Deliro

Deliro is a wealthy man, wholly devoted to his wife. His unwavering affection and doting nature, however, are tested when he begins to suspect her fidelity. This suspicion pushes Deliro to reconsider his excessive uxoriousness, ultimately leading him to distance himself from his wife.

Fallace

Fallace, the wife of Deliro and daughter of Sordido, becomes infatuated with Fastidious Brisk. Her foolish and reckless behavior in pursuit of her affection for him eventually causes her to lose the love and trust of her husband. Her actions underscore her lack of discretion and foresight.

Sordido

Sordido is a miserly farmer who obsessively consults the almanac and hoards grain, eagerly anticipating poor weather conditions that would benefit him financially. However, when his neighbors enjoy a bountiful harvest, Sordido is driven to despair and attempts to end his own life, unable to reconcile with the prosperity of others.

Sogliardo

Sogliardo, the brother of Sordido, is consumed by a desire to ascend the social ladder. He goes so far as to pay Carlo Buffone for lessons in gentlemanly conduct. Despite his efforts, Sogliardo's attempts to transform himself into a gentleman fail, highlighting his lack of genuine sophistication.

Fungoso

Fungoso, Sordido’s son, is characterized by his foolishness and his futile attempts to emulate the ever-changing fashion trends set by Fastidious Brisk. Despite his best efforts, Fungoso constantly finds himself trailing behind in the fashion race, never quite managing to keep up with the rapidly evolving styles.

Fastidious Brisk

Fastidious Brisk is an affected courtier noted for his ever-changing wardrobe. His penchant for rapidly altering his clothing style ensures that anyone who tries to imitate him, like Fungoso, is perpetually out of style. Ultimately, Fastidious Brisk's extravagant lifestyle catches up with him, and he finds himself imprisoned for debt.

Puntarvolo

Puntarvolo is an old-fashioned knight who loves to enact romantic scenarios with his wife. He embarks on a Continental tour with a peculiar wager—putting money on the safe return of himself, his wife, and his dog at odds of five to one. His journey ends in tragedy when Macilente poisons his dog, causing Puntarvolo to lose the bet. In anger and frustration, he resorts to sealing Carlo's mouth to put an end to his mockery.

Shift

Shift is a duplicitous character who masquerades as a criminal without ever engaging in actual criminal activities. His cowardice prevents him from committing real crimes, rendering his attempts at deceit largely ineffectual.

Saviolina

Saviolina, an affected court lady, is known to be the mistress of Fastidious Brisk. Her role in the narrative reflects the superficial and pretentious nature of the courtly life she inhabits.