Arthur

Arthur is a neatly groomed and handsome young man of twenty-five, who maintains his appearance in a freshly pressed suit, white shirt, and tie until the final act. A counterrevolutionary idealist, he vigorously opposes what he perceives as the liberalism, ethical relativism, and permissive nature of his family and society. Arthur is repulsed by their perceived moral laxity and their refusal to adhere to strict rules of conduct. In his quest to reestablish an orderly and respectable life, governed by traditional ceremonies and adherence to absolute principles, he persuades his cousin Ala to marry him rather than simply cohabit with him. By the start of Act 3, he forces his family into ill-fitting, outdated formal attire for the wedding. However, Arthur ultimately realizes that the old order cannot be reinstated by force. His world collapses when Ala casually reveals her affair with the servant Eddie on the morning of their wedding. Overcome with emotion, Arthur becomes vulnerable to Eddie, who lethally attacks him.

Eddie

Eddie, the family's robust and sensual servant, displays a rugged demeanor with his unkempt appearance and small, square mustache. His lack of intellectualism contrasts with his physical presence. Eddie's card games with Eugene and Eugenia irritate Arthur, but it is his romantic involvement with Eleanor, Arthur’s mother, that deeply offends him. Arthur’s desperate attempt to have his father, Stomil, eliminate Eddie is thwarted. As Arthur descends into a drunken rant about omnipotent power in the final act, Eddie seizes the opportunity to assert dominance. After Ala confesses her infidelity, Arthur seeks Eddie’s demise, but it is Eddie who is prepared, stunning Arthur with a revolver before delivering the fatal blow. With Arthur defeated, Eddie assumes tyrannical control over the family, ending the play by dancing the tango "La Cumparsita" with old Eugene.

Stomil

Stomil, Arthur’s father, is a large, corpulent man with a mane of gray hair reminiscent of a lion's. His penchant for wearing unbuttoned pajamas incenses Arthur. Stomil, an aesthetic nonconformist, immerses himself in avant-garde artistic experiments, dismissing Arthur's pleas to make a tragedy out of his own cuckolding by Eddie. Instead, he chooses to indulge in card games with Eddie. In Act 3, Arthur, disillusioned, seeks his father's forgiveness, acknowledging the impossibility of reverting to old forms to create a tangible reality. Stomil responds with a magnanimous eulogy for Arthur after his death.

Eleanor

Eleanor, Arthur's middle-aged mother and Stomil’s wife, maintains a youthful figure. She is unconcerned about her affair with Eddie, finding pleasure in his lack of complexities and scruples—qualities she associates with his genuine nature and authenticity.

Ala

Ala, the eighteen-year-old cousin of Arthur, is an attractive, long-haired young woman known for her flirtatious nature. She quickly tires of Arthur's lengthy discourses on convention and principles. When Arthur, on his deathbed, confesses his love for her, she questions why he never revealed his emotions earlier, choosing instead to treat her as an audience for his declarations.

Eugene

Eugene, an old and courteous former officer, serves as Arthur’s great-uncle. He adeptly adapts to any prevailing family order or disorder, showing a willingness to follow Arthur's restoration of nineteenth-century formalism. However, as Eddie seizes power, Eugene submits to the new order, complying with Eddie’s demands, such as removing Eddie’s shoes.

Eugenia

Eugenia, Arthur's grandmother, is characterized by her lively, irreverent, and playful demeanor, remaining indifferent to the philosophical debates that unfold within the family. At Arthur's insistence, she lies on her late husband's catafalque in the opening scene. In the concluding act, she climbs upon it willingly and dies, much to the indifference of all but Stomil.