The Protagonist is an unnamed teenage boy living in an Irish household with his mother and great aunt. As a younger boy, he demonstrated a strong curiosity about his aunt's history, often asking questions about her personal items. He collects used postage stamps from her international postcards. He struggles with feelings of shame regarding an impulsive decision he made in her sitting room.

Great Aunt Mary is an elderly woman who lives with her nephew and his mother. She maintains a highly organized personal space and fiercely guards her privacy, keeping her desk locked to protect mementos from her youth. Despite her emotional reserve, she shares her love for literature by reading classic novels to her nephew. She consistently wears a cameo ring and a golden locket.

John is a soldier who served in the trenches of World War I. He writes candidly about physical exhaustion, the freezing winter cold, and the horrific realities of the battlefield. His correspondence reveals a sensitive man who cares deeply for Great Aunt Mary. The violence of the conflict profoundly affects his worldview, pushing him toward a life of religious devotion.

The Protagonist's Mother is a quiet presence in the household she shares with her son and Great Aunt Mary. She maintains the cleanliness of their home and organizes its contents with a neatness similar to her aunt's habits. She serves as a guardian of family privacy, silently managing Mary's personal effects.