The Characters
Family Tree
Character Descriptions
Tevye's Family
Tevye- the Main character, a poor milkman and father to 5 daughters. Tevye is a learned man who wishes for a better life for his wife and daughters.
Golde- Tevye's wife. Golde wants the best for her family, especially her oldest daughters that are of marrying age
Tzeitel- Tevye and Golde's oldest daughter. She falls in love with Motel, the tailor. By the end of the show, she and Motel are married and have a baby
Hodel- Tevye and Golde's second daughter. She falls in love with Perchik, the radical student
Chava- Tevye and Golde's third daughter. She falls in love with Fyedka, a Russian who isn't Jewish
Shprintze and Beilke- The two youngest daughters. Neither is old enough for marriage
Love Interests
Motel- a poor tailor, in love with Tzeitel
Perchik- A student with some radical ideas. He falls in love with Hodel after Tevye hires him to tutor his children
Fyedka- A Russian Christian who falls in love with Chava.
Other Characters
Lazar Wolf- A widower and local butcher who almost marries Tzeitel until she begs Tevye to call the engagement off.
Fruma-Sarah- Lazar Wolf's dead wife. Tevye claims that she came to him in a dream threatening to kill Tzeitel
Grandma Tzeitel- Golde's dead grandmother. Tevye claims she was also in the dream
Yente- The village matchmaker
Shaindel- Motel's mother
Rabbi- the spiritual leader of Anatevka. Other characters often come to him to make decisions about Jewish law
Mendel- The Rabbi's son. He was the object of Hodel's affections until Perchik came along.
Mordcha, Nachum and Avram- Named villagers of Anatevka