• Sophocles’s tragic hero: telling his story in the first person. Former king of Thebes. An old, blind, and lost wanderer on exile, relying on his faithful daughters. At Colonus, he gains others’ sympathy and gods’ forgiveness, confronts the family members who wronged him, and bestows his blessings and curses. At last, he is redeemed to die an honorable, “wonderful” death.

• Kelvin: sometimes telling Oedipus’ story in the third person. He comes back to the audience after Oedipus’ death, delivers the final sermon to the congregation.

• Storyteller: welcome us in the beginning and reveal to us most parts of Oedipus’ story as an omniscient narrator, often speaking in concert with OEDIUPS.

• King of Athens: claiming to have once been an exile himself, he welcomes and protects OEDIPUS in Colonus, who in return confides in him his secret dying place and bestows his blessing upon Colonus/Athens.

The most dutiful and reliable of OEDIPUS’ children. She is his eyes, head, and heart - and a soft heart. Honest and clearbheaded, she gives careful thoughts to propriety and helps OEDIPUS make decisions on his exile. Her story and struggle continue in Sophocles’ world and in ours.

Jocasta’s brother and OEDIPUS’ brother-in-law. The present king of Thebes. Learning OEDIPUS’ protectivce power from the oracle, he arrives at Colonus to ask for his return to Thebes. Rejected, he wastes no more words and leaves, but orders his soldiers to seize ANTIGONE and ISMENE, who are later rescued by THESEUS.

The older son of OEDIPUS. He comes to Colonus to confess his sins to get OEDIPUS’ blessing, but his plead is full of hatred against his brother Etocles, pride in his Argos armies, and condescending pity for his father. OEDIPUS calls him out as a liar and condemns him to die in the battle against his brother. The audience sees his fate on stage. 

A church member (clergy? Or laity?), who plays the second largest part in narrating Oedipus’s story. She often speaks in concert with ANTIGONE.