Martha
Martha is the main antagonist of the play. She is cruel and emotionless. She justifies the killings with her selfishness, of wanting to leave her dark and gloomy home to replace it with the sun in Africa. After discovering that Jan is her brother, she feels no remorse, saying that she would have acted the same even with the knowledge.
Mother
Mother is Martha's accomplice in crime. She is passive, has no desires of her own, but only does it for Martha. When mother discovers that Jan is her son, she decides to follow him into the river, tired of the sorrow and guilty conscience biting down on her.
Jan
Jan is a returning savior son who came back to his mother and sister to save them from misery and poverty. He drags out his confession, introducing himself with a different name, which has unfortunately dire consequences for him. He is innocently battling with his emotions because of his return home, while the mother and sister plot his death.
Maria
Maria is Jan's wife. She warns him to tell the truth immediately and simply, without dragging it out. She is afraid to leave him behind, sensing that something is wrong.
