Walt Whitman is an accomplished autodidact who previously worked as a journalist. He assumes the role of the self-appointed Poet of Democracy in postbellum America. Operating with an energetic and conversational voice, he relies on free verse to communicate directly with the American public. He possesses a deep optimism about the nation's democratic experiment and views his writing as a public utility rather than private expression.

Mother America serves as the poetic personification of the United States. She appears as an enthroned, regal, yet loving maternal figure who sits restored after surviving the tragedies of the Civil War. She acts as an international example of righteous democracy and a protective guardian of future generations.

The daughters and sons represent the sprawling citizenry of Gilded Age America. They encompass people of varied ages and economic statuses, possessing different physical capabilities. Despite their vast physical and social differences, they stand entirely equal in the eyes of the law. They are united by their shared participation in a cooperative national community.

Walter Whitman is a struggling farmer and part-time carpenter living on New York's Long Island. He experiences severe financial difficulties after a disastrous attempt at real estate speculation in Brooklyn. This economic strain leads him into deep debt and struggles with alcoholism.

Louisa Whitman is the mother of eight children. She raises her large family primarily on Long Island and in Brooklyn during a period of severe economic instability for the household.