Eliezer (Elie Wiesel) - The narrator and protagonist, a young Jewish boy from Sighet, Transylvania. The story follows his journey through the horrors of the Holocaust, including his time in Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. He struggles with his faith and survival as he witnesses unimaginable atrocities.

Shlomo (Eliezer’s Father) - Eliezer’s father, a respected figure in the Sighet Jewish community. He is a central figure in the story, as Eliezer’s primary motivation becomes keeping his father alive during their imprisonment. His health deteriorates over time, and his death profoundly affects Eliezer.

Moishe the Beadle - A poor, foreign Jew who works at the synagogue in Sighet. He is an early mentor to Eliezer, teaching him about Jewish mysticism. Deported early by the Nazis, he escapes and returns to warn the townspeople of the impending danger, but no one believes him.

Mrs. Wiesel (Eliezer’s Mother) - Eliezer’s mother, who is separated from him and his father upon arrival at Auschwitz. She is sent to the gas chambers along with Eliezer’s younger sister, Tzipora.

Tzipora - Eliezer’s younger sister, who is killed along with their mother shortly after arriving at Auschwitz. Her loss haunts Eliezer throughout the narrative.

Madame Schächter - A woman on the train to Auschwitz who has a breakdown and begins screaming about seeing flames and fire. Initially dismissed as mad, her visions foreshadow the crematoria the prisoners will soon encounter.

Dr. Josef Mengele - A real historical figure, the infamous Nazi doctor known as the "Angel of Death." In the book, he briefly appears during the selection process at Auschwitz, deciding who will live and who will die.

Juliek - A Polish violinist Eliezer meets in the camps. He plays a haunting Beethoven piece amidst the suffering, symbolizing a fleeting moment of beauty and resistance. He dies shortly after.

Idek - A brutal Kapo (prisoner overseer) in the camps who beats Eliezer and his father. His unpredictable cruelty represents the dehumanization within the camp system.

Franek - A foreman in the Buna camp who forces Eliezer to give up his gold crown (tooth) after tormenting his father. He exemplifies the corruption and power struggles among prisoners.

Rabbi Eliahou - An elderly rabbi whose son abandons him during a death march. This moment causes Eliezer to reflect on his own relationship with his father and pray he doesn’t succumb to the same selfishness.

The French Girl - A young woman in the Buna camp who comforts Eliezer after Idek beats him. She passes as a non-Jew to survive, showing small acts of kindness amid the brutality.

Zalman - A young man who dies during a forced march after suffering from stomach cramps, trampled by the other prisoners. His death underscores the desperation and loss of humanity in the camps.