The narrator of the poem is a woman who processes extreme emotions and trauma regarding her childhood and adult relationships. She reflects on her subservient position in a male-dominated world. She compares herself to a foot trapped in a black shoe and a marginalized victim of oppression. Having lost her father at age ten and survived a suicide attempt at twenty, she actively tries to untangle her lifelong fear and resentment.

Daddy is the speaker's deceased father, a towering figure whose memory dominates her thoughts. He possesses German origins, having been born in Grabow, and worked as a teacher. To the young speaker, he appeared as large as a San Francisco seal and as omnipotent as God. Her adult perspective reimagines him through terrifying historical and supernatural lenses, describing him as a fascist and a devil.

The Husband is a man the speaker marries, having known him for seven years. He serves as a surrogate for her father. He represents the speaker's transition from a restrictive childhood home to an equally oppressive marriage. He drains the life from her, earning him a direct comparison to a vampire who feeds on her blood.

The Villagers are the collective community members who lived near or knew Daddy. They represent the outside world's consensus on his character. They validate the speaker's dark perspective by openly celebrating his death.