Berniece, 35, Maretha’s mother, embodies the guardian of her ancestors' past and is the sole family member determined to keep the piano heirloom. She mourns her late husband, Crawley, and blames Boy Willie for his death, questioning his actions more than anyone else.

Boy Willie, 30, Berniece’s impulsive brother, struggles to accept his past. A sharecropper recently released from prison in Mississippi, he plans to sell the piano to buy land once worked by his ancestors.

Lymon, 29, Boy Willie’s friend, is initially secretive and shy but becomes a sympathetic figure as he grows comfortable with the family. He avoids speaking out and hopes to escape the law by starting a new life in the North.

Doaker, 47, the owner of the Charles household, is the uncle of Berniece and Boy Willie. He lives with Berniece and Maretha. Doaker is a railroad worker who often serves as the storyteller, sharing detailed accounts of the piano’s history.

Wining Boy, 56, Doaker’s older brother, portrays himself as a successful musician and gambler, though his style is outdated. Unlike Boy Willie, he dwells on the past and returns to the Charles household whenever he’s bankrupt, reminiscing about his former glory.

Avery Brown, 38, a preacher with good intentions, has been courting Berniece since Crawley’s death. He emphasizes his Christian views and hopes to build a congregation. Avery often advises Berniece to let go of her past fears and mourning.

Grace represents the desires of both Boy Willie and Lymon, with both men vying for her attention. As a non-family member, her discomfort in the final scene of Act Two highlights the powerful presence of ancestral ghosts in the Charles household.

The 9-year-old daughter of Berniece, Maretha plays the role of the future generation for the Charles family. Although Berniece teaches her how to play the piano, she does not allow any history of the piano to become apparent to Maretha.