In the 'icarus short story', the main characters are Daedalus and Icarus. Daedalus is an important figure as he is the inventor of the wings. He is a resourceful man who uses his skills to try and find a way out of their predicament. Icarus, on the other hand, is the central figure in the tragic part of the story. He represents youth, naivete, and over - ambition. His actions of flying too close to the sun, against his father's advice, are what drive the story towards its tragic conclusion.