Manuel is an aging matador who has recently been hospitalized for injuries. Refusing to retire from the bullring, he views his profession as the core of his identity. He negotiates for a poorly paid, high-risk nocturnal fight using rejected bulls, determined to prove he is still capable of executing his craft.

A former champion fencer in the Italian military, the major now attends daily therapy for a withered hand. He distrusts the medical machines and maintains a rigid, soldierly posture. His strict military discipline masks deep cynicism and unresolved emotional pain regarding human attachments.

Jig is a young woman waiting at a rural train station, facing an unplanned pregnancy and intense pressure from her partner. She observes her surroundings and uses them to communicate her reluctance, contrasting the barren station with the fertile fields across the tracks as she weighs her choices.

The American is a self-absorbed traveler who views his partner's pregnancy as a threat to their transient lifestyle. He repeatedly frames a proposed medical procedure as perfectly simple, ignoring Jig's distress and relying on manipulative reassurance to direct her choices.

Nick is a recurring character whose experiences span childhood heartbreak, teenage encounters with organized crime, and adult wartime trauma. As a boy, he recovers quickly from romantic disappointment. As an adult soldier on the Italian front, he suffers from severe insomnia and relies on detailed mental rituals to maintain his composure.

Jack is an aging veteran welterweight boxer preparing for a championship defense. Doubting his ability to defeat his younger challenger, he struggles with fatigue, insomnia, and homesickness during training camp. Driven by concerns over his family's financial security, he approaches the impending bout as a harsh business reality rather than a quest for public glory.

Al and Max are professional hitmen hired to assassinate a former prizefighter. They operate as a synchronized unit, issuing commands, securing hostages, and speaking in condescending slang. They treat murder as a mundane business obligation.

The narrator is an American officer recovering from a leg wound sustained on the Italian front. He feels disconnected from the decorated Italian soldiers, believing his own medals lack genuine merit. He forms a quiet bond with the major through their shared hospital routine, observing the older man's rigid discipline.

Jerry is a boxing trainer who works closely with Jack Brennan. He recognizes that his fighter's skills have diminished and tries to provide steady support during the difficult training camp. He observes Jack's physical struggles and preparations for the title defense.

Walcott is the younger, powerfully built challenger facing Jack Brennan for the welterweight title. He represents the physical superiority and youthful endurance that the aging champion can no longer match.

William is an advance man for a traveling burlesque show who has stopped working and retreated to his hotel bed. Using alcohol and other substances to manage his internal suffering, he resists his manager's attempts to intervene.

Zurito is an older, highly skilled picador and a pragmatic friend to Manuel Garcia. He recognizes that Manuel is past his prime and initially urges him to cut off his pigtail and retire. He ultimately agrees to ride in the nocturnal fight to protect Manuel as best he can.

Ole is a former heavyweight prizefighter who rarely leaves his rooming house bed. Confronting a threat from his past, he displays complete fatalism and a quiet acceptance of the consequences of his earlier mistakes.

Retana is a cynical fight promoter who organizes low-prestige nocturnal events. He takes advantage of Manuel Garcia's desperation, offering him substandard pay and inferior animals. He views the fighters purely as disposable assets.

George is the pragmatic manager of the Summit lunchroom. He complies with the armed men's demands to ensure safety and maintains a detached attitude toward the violence entering his establishment.

John is Jack Brennan's boxing manager. He coordinates the business side of the championship fight and maintains connections with professional gamblers. He acts as the intermediary during the match, advising Jack when the rounds turn against him.

Known as "Sliding Billy," Turner is the manager of a burlesque show. He displays genuine concern for William's well-being and urges him to visit a rehabilitation clinic, but ultimately leaves him undisturbed when his efforts fail.

Pinin is a nineteen-year-old military orderly stationed in the mountains. When subjected to his commander's coded personal questions, he deflects the inquiries by claiming he does not understand the terminology.

Sam is the cook at Henry's lunchroom in Summit. He is tied up by the hitmen and strongly desires to avoid any further involvement with the dangerous men or their target.

John is an Italian American soldier from Chicago who serves as Nick's orderly. Viewing life through a highly practical lens, he insists that marrying a wealthy girl will cure his commander's insomnia.