The anonymous voice of the poem uses the first-person plural "we" to unite with a persecuted group. Facing impending death at the hands of a violent majority, the speaker functions as a military commander delivering a desperate rallying cry. Rather than giving up peacefully, the speaker advocates for a noble final stand that will force their enemies to respect them in death.

The community to which the speaker belongs. They are initially depicted as trapped victims facing a violent and overwhelming enemy. Though severely outnumbered and pressed against a wall, they hold the capacity to deliver a punishing counterattack against their murderers. Their collective struggle represents the fight of marginalized groups pushing back against systemic violence.

The antagonistic force terrorizing the speaker and the kinsmen. They hold institutional power and numerical superiority over their victims. While they mock the oppressed, the text ultimately characterizes them as a cowardly and monstrous pack who only attack those they have already cornered.