It's also possible that there are antagonists in the story. These could be people or circumstances that stand in the way of the main character's 'way up'. For example, a rival who is competing for the same opportunities or a difficult family situation that creates barriers.
In the short story 'A Way Up to Heaven', the central characters are Mrs. Foster and Mr. Foster. Mrs. Foster is presented as a woman who has endured a great deal in her marriage. She is very punctual and has a great fear of being late. Mr. Foster, on the other hand, is often late and seems to not care much about his wife's feelings. Their interactions and the power play between them form the crux of the story.
The main characters are Mrs. Foster and her husband. Mrs. Foster is a patient woman who has been put through a lot by her husband's actions. Her husband, on the other hand, is often inconsiderate and causes her a great deal of distress.
One of the main characters is Kaladin. He is a complex character with a lot of depth.
In 'the way of the world short story', there could be a young man as one of the main characters. He might be ambitious and trying to make his way in the world. There could also be an older, more experienced character, maybe a mentor or an antagonist, who either helps or hinders the young man's progress. And there might be a female character who is involved in a relationship with the young man, adding a layer of complexity to the story.
I'm not sure without reading the story, but it could be a lone traveler. A single character often makes for a good focus in a story about a long journey.
The main characters include Jess, a troubled girl. Martin, who is facing a scandal in his life. Maureen, an older lady with her own set of troubles, and JJ, a musician dealing with his career and personal life problems. They all meet on the rooftop and their stories intertwine throughout the 'A Long Way Down Short Story'.
Each of these characters has their own backstory that is gradually revealed as the story progresses. Their interactions with one another are what drive the story forward, as they learn about each other and themselves while on that rooftop, debating whether or not to take that final step down.
The main theme could be about self - discovery. In many short stories, characters go through a journey of some sort which leads them to learn more about themselves, and 'The Way Up' might be no different.
I don't have enough information to determine the main characters in the 'bearing up short story'. It could be an individual protagonist, perhaps a young person trying to bear up in a difficult family situation.
One of the main themes is probably guilt. Mrs. Foster is constantly made to feel guilty by her husband's actions. Another could be revenge as the end of the story has an element of it.