"To Life!"
Fiddler on the Roof - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Tevye
Chaim Topol
Motivation
To protect his family, uphold God's law, and maintain his dignity in a hostile world.
Character Arc
Tevye begins as the firm ruler of his house but is gradually softened by his daughters' rebellions. He bends for Tzeitel and Hodel but breaks when Chava marries outside the faith. By the end, he is a man displaced but not defeated, carrying his family to a new life.
Golde
Norma Crane
Motivation
The physical survival and security of her daughters.
Character Arc
Golde is the grounding force, focused on survival and status. Through the song "Do You Love Me?", she realizes that her arranged marriage has grown into genuine love, allowing her to accept the changes in her daughters' lives more readily than Tevye.
Hodel
Michèle Marsh
Motivation
To change the world and support the man she loves.
Character Arc
She moves from a spirited village girl to a committed revolutionary partner. Her choice to follow Perchik to Siberia represents the sacrifice of home and family for ideals and love.
Chava
Neva Small
Motivation
Love that transcends cultural boundaries.
Character Arc
The shy, bookish daughter who crosses the ultimate line by marrying Fyedka, a Russian Christian. She forces Tevye to confront the limits of his tolerance.