Who is The Characters in General from Friedman's Fables and what is their importance?

The characters in these fables, as is generally the case with characters in similar stories are essentially defined by function rather than identity or by purpose rather than by realism. They exist to prove a point about human behavior and for that reason are uni-dimensional, embodying one or two particular human characteristics in order for the fable to make its point ABOUT those characteristics. In other words, while other narratives strive to develop complex, multi-faceted characters, characters in fables are, in general, intensely vivid portrayals of a SINGLE facet of humanity, designed and shaped in order to serve the author's instructional purpose.