The main characters are William Tell and his son, and also the Austrian tyrant who forces William Tell to perform the apple - shooting task.
The main characters in the legend of William Tell story are as follows. First, there's William Tell himself, a man of great courage and marksmanship. His son is a significant character as well, being the one in a very dangerous situation when the apple is placed on his head. And then we have the Austrian oppressor. This person is in a position of power and uses it to bully the people. His actions against William Tell and his family set the stage for the heroic deeds of William Tell and the inspiration it gives to the Swiss people to fight for their freedom.