Jane is a poet who has lived with severe clinical depression since infancy. She struggles with feelings of intense lethargy and a disconnect from her own body, which she describes as feeling like a "piece of burned meat." Despite the heavy burden of her illness, she actively seeks moments of peace through psychiatric medication, nature, and the presence of loved ones.

Personified as an unholy ghost and an unwelcome guest, Depression acts as the poem's central antagonistic force. It operates as a demonic, parasitic entity that possesses the speaker starting in infancy. It dictates her worldview, removes her capacity for gratitude, and forcibly isolates her from her family and spirituality.

Donald is Jane's husband and a fellow poet. He provides her with a connection to the artistic community and a home in New Hampshire. He represents the supportive marriage and daily life that Jane is able to re-enter when her antidepressant medication takes effect.

Jane's mother cares for her during infancy. However, because of the early onset of the illness, Jane feels an emotional barrier between them, believing she belongs more to the melancholy than to her parent.

A well-meaning but misguided acquaintance of the speaker. They embody the public stigma surrounding mental health by claiming that a true belief in God would alleviate clinical depression, an assertion that increases Jane's feelings of guilt.

The speaker's loyal pet. The dog's physical proximity and simple, rhythmic breathing serve as a grounding force. By focusing on the animal, Jane remains tethered to the living world during her dark episodes.

The divine creator of the universe. Jane maintains a deferential belief in God, though she feels her illness has damaged her ability to show proper gratitude for the natural world He created.

A local bird with a wild, complex song and a bright, unequivocal eye. Its morning song provides the speaker with a profound sense of ordinary contentment and a temporary reprieve from her melancholy.