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Tevye, a milkman introduces us to the people of Anatevka, a small Jewish settlement in Russia. Life is not easy for a poor Jewish family but their traditions are central to their survival. At the heart of this is the village matchmaker, Yente who arrives to see Golde, Tevye's wife, to arrange a marriage for their daughter, Tzeitel, with the rich butcher, Lazar Wolf. Tevye's daughters dream of their matches but Tzeitel brings them harshly back to reality, reminding them of their poverty and warning them of the husbands they are more likely to find.
Tevye arrives home from a day delivering milk without his horse to pull the cart. In a conversation with God he considers how different his life would be if he were a rich man, but his dreams are interrupted by the news of nearby Jewish evictions. Perchick, a student, arrives and tries to convince the men of Anatevka to follow a new political ethos. This is too much for the men and they leave, after making their feelings clear to the young upstart. Perchick offers to teach Tevye's children and in return is invited to stay with the family.
During preparations for the Sabbath, Golde convinces Tevye to go to Lazar Wolf but without telling him the reason. Meanwhile, Tzeitel is trying to convince her shy boyfriend Motel to face up to her father and ask him for her hand in marriage.
Lazar and Tevye meet and after some confusion agree to the butcher and Tzeitel's betrothal and the celebrations continue until the early morning. Even the local Russian soldiers get involved. However the good humour is destroyed when a warning comes from the Constable, a local government official that trouble is on the way for the Jewish villagers.
Perchick begins teaching some unconventional lessons from the Bible while trying to catch the eye of Hodel, Tevye's second daughter. Tevye tells Tzeitel the news of her betrothal but she is distraught and has to reveal her love for Motel the tailor. She is so upset that Tevye agrees (after persuasion) that she may marry him and not Lazar Wolf. Tevye, however, knows the real power in the house is his wife and tries to find a way to convince her of the marriage without causing trouble for himself.
This is cleverly done by an elaborately described dream in which Golde's mother and Lazar's deceased first wife, Fruma-Sarah appear to give their choice of husband for Tzeitel and to warn of dire consequences if Lazar were to remarry. Golde agrees to the marriage of Tzeitel and Motel. As Motel prepares for his wedding, Chava is left looking after the shop and is alone when two Russian soldiers begin to bully her. A third, Fyedka, arrives and defends her. He also reveals an interest in getting to know her better despite the social divide between them.
Motel and Tzeitel's marriage is celebrated in a traditional manner until Lazar's anger causes a major disagreement amongst the villagers. Perchick tries to end this but only makes matters worse by suggesting dancing with a woman which breaks all traditions. If this were not enough, during the celebrations, the Constable enters with his men and breaks up the ceremony.
Perchick's political beliefs have at last forced him to act and he decides to leave the village and return to the fight in Kiev. Before he goes he struggles to ask Hodel to marry him and she agrees, despite fear for the time they will spend apart. They tell Tevye that they will marry in defiance of the tradition that they should ask him, and despite his uncertainty, he agrees. He bravely tells Golde and explains that he made his decision because Hodel loves Perchick. Then he shyly asks if Golde loves him.
The rumours start about Hodel and Perchick when Yente discovers Perchick has been arrested in Kiev. Hodel decides to join Perchick in Kiev and there is an emotional parting between father and daughter. Next comes news of a new arrival in Motel's shop. Chava is once more approached by Fyedka and she realises that she loves him. She tries to ask Tevye to accept Fyedka but he cannot and tells her never to see him again. She decides instead to run away and marries away from the community.
On top of this, the Constable warns Tevye that the whole village has three days to leave Anatevka. The pogrom will start then. There is talk of resistance but it is hopeless: and Anatevka has to be abandoned.
The villagers begin to go to start a new life wherever they may. Tevye, Golde, and their youngest daughters are packed and ready to go to America, leaving the community and their own family scattered across the world.