Jeremy is a "Speaker" who is physically pinned to a wall and mentally controlled by the wealthy Untermeyer family. He only speaks when prompted by a machine that dictates his subject matter and tone. Despite his imprisonment, he develops a secret, profound attachment to the woman of the house.

A member of the wealthy elite who owns and controls humans for entertainment. He programs his servants to recount historical events and describe cities for the amusement of his guests. He genuinely believes he provides a good life for his servants, completely ignoring the cruelty of his hobby.

The wife of Mr. U, she participates in the household's system of enslavement. She sneaks into the speaking room at night to force Jeremy to speak to her in sensual ways. She uses the controlled servants as an escape from her dissatisfaction with her marriage.

A mother and writer living in a comfortable, middle-class neighborhood. When her son is attacked by a stranger on the street, she becomes obsessed with ideas of justice and retribution. She struggles to extend empathy to people outside her immediate social circle.

An older man living in a highly moderated, authoritarian society. He writes to his grandson to offer advice on handling a dangerous political situation. He carries immense guilt over his generation's complacency, which allowed their society to become oppressive.

Genevieve is a powerful, high-earning corporate employee who takes advantage of her position. She bills the company for time spent conducting an affair with an important client. She uses her status to insulate herself from consequences when disputes arise in the office.

A highly agreeable, unopinionated young woman with little individuality. When she develops a crush on her coworker, she attempts to cultivate a more conventional, "girlish" personality using magazines and perfume to win his affection.

A citizen of a dystopian subterranean world forced to enact an endless amusement park role-play for visitors who never arrive. Initially compliant with the strict rules and monitoring systems, his worldview is shaken when he learns shocking truths about the physical boundaries of their society.

An elderly woman who projects the image of a contented mother but inwardly resents her children's life choices and her late husband's infidelities. She maintains a bitter, decades-long grudge against a neighbor she views as inferior.

An elderly man whose memory has been erased by a manipulative organization. Renamed "Greg," he is fed specific phrases to shout at political protests. As he experiences sudden, unauthorized flashbacks to his former life, he begins to resist the mental conditioning imposed upon him.

A supervisor for a group that wipes the memories of vulnerable people to use them as pawns in protests. He dictates exactly what his subjects can say, weaponizing language to dehumanize his political opposition and manipulate media narratives.

An aging man who develops a profound fixation on an old house that has fallen into disrepair. He projects his anxieties about his failing health and inevitable mortality onto the property, relentlessly pursuing its owner despite repeated rejections.

The adult son of Mr. and Mrs. U. Unlike his parents, he recognizes the barbaric nature of the household's entertainment system. He frequently attempts to wake the servants up to the reality of their oppression.

Another captive Speaker in the Untermeyer household. He conforms to the daily rituals of performances and obeys the programming commands sent by the family.

A female Speaker owned by the Untermeyer family. She participates in the historical reenactments and city descriptions demanded by her captors, silently observing the nightly activities in the room.

The son of the Narrator/Mother and Keith. He is violently pushed into a bush by an unstable older man, an event that sets off his parents' obsessive quest for justice. At the police station, he struggles to identify his attacker among similar-looking suspects.

The husband of the Narrator/Mother. He initially presents as a calm, stabilizing force in the family, but his reaction to his son's attack and his wife's writing pushes him toward violent impulsivity.

The narrator's cousin, who previously struggled with drug addiction and committed several violent crimes, including arson and assault. The narrator uses his memory to measure her own capacity for forgiveness.

A young man who reaches out to his grandfather for advice regarding friends who are facing government investigation. He worries about standing by while his friends' lives are ruined by the authoritarian state.

A friend of Robbie who is entangled in a government inquiry regarding her peers' citizenship statuses. She is at risk of severe consequences for refusing to inform on others.

An office manager struggling financially to support her family. Because of her previous criminal record, she clings to her current job despite feeling overworked. She occasionally steals minor items like coffee and paper towels from the office out of economic desperation.

The boss of Gen and Brenda, who is easily distracted by his collection of toy cars. He is forced into the role of mediator when a petty but destructive conflict erupts between his two employees regarding workplace theft.

An important and lucrative client for Tim's company. He maintains a secret affair with Gen and leverages his professional influence to protect her when her fraudulent billing is discovered.

A local man who works at the grocery store owned by his mother. He still lives at home, which prompts community gossip about his devotion to his mother preventing him from marrying. He finds Sparrow's agreeable nature appealing.

An older woman who runs the local supermarket where her son works. She is highly protective of him and initially bullies Sparrow when she realizes the young woman has romantic feelings for her son.

A "Monitor" in the underground society responsible for reporting rule-breakers and orchestrating brutal punishments. She enters a romance with Brian, but her authoritative position complicates her loyalties as she begins to recognize the decay of their world.

A friend of Brian who commits a verbal transgression by questioning the purpose of their underground existence. His moment of doubt forces him to navigate the society's dangerous, competitive reporting system to save himself.

An old friend of Brian who previously traveled up the "Egress Spout" as a teenager. He documents his findings in a secret letter, challenging the foundational lies of their society and attempting to wake others up to the reality of their containment.

A woman who has lived an unconventional life marked by multiple affairs, including one with Alma's late husband. She is highly aware of Alma's hatred but approaches her interactions with a mix of defiance and neighborly obligation.

The adult daughter of Alma. She tries to care for her aging mother during their outing, attempting to shield her when a sudden hailstorm strikes the area.

The adult son of Alma. He participates in the Mother's Day walk, unaware of his mother's internal criticism regarding his life choices.

Alma's deceased husband, whose past infidelities with women in the community continue to dominate the thoughts of both his widow and his former lovers.

Elliot's former partner from the life he lived before his memory was erased. The recollection of her serves as an emotional anchor that helps him recognize his stolen autonomy.

The owner of an overgrown, decaying estate. He is unable to maintain the home while caring for his ill wife, yet he abruptly takes the property off the market and ignores the increasing stream of obsessive letters from the narrator.