Walt Whitman is the speaker of the poem and a 19th-century American poet experiencing intense emotional suffering following an estrangement. He wanders the city streets and country roads at night, struggling with the slow passage of time and profound loneliness. Ashamed of his lingering attachment yet pushing himself toward self-acceptance, he turns to introspection to process his raw feelings of isolation.

The Friend is an unnamed man who previously shared a close, intimate relationship with the speaker but has since separated from him. According to the poet's perspective, he appears content without Whitman and has seemingly moved on from their relationship. He exists in the text primarily through the speaker's desperate questions and memories, serving as the focal point of the poem's sorrow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is a prominent American literary figure who reads the early edition of Whitman's work and responds with great enthusiasm. He provides crucial early validation for the poet. He later counsels Whitman to tone down the sexual imagery in his poems, advice which the poet ultimately ignores.

Walter Whitman is a farmer and carpenter living in West Hills, New York. He moves his large family to Brooklyn when his son Walt is three years old, seeking new economic opportunities.

Louisa Van Velsor Whitman is the mother of Walt Whitman and his eight siblings. She raises her large family in New York during the early nineteenth century, moving from West Hills to Brooklyn.

Abraham Lincoln is the President of the United States during the Civil War. He serves as an inspiration to Whitman, who strongly supports the Union cause and volunteers in Washington hospitals to comfort wounded soldiers.