Sylvia is an American poet residing in England who works intensely on a new collection of poetry. She suffers from severe clinical depression and feelings of isolation. She struggles to balance her artistic ambitions with the traditional domestic roles expected of mothers. She channels her personal pain and feelings of abandonment into the confessional style of her writing.

Ted is an English poet who marries Sylvia after a brief courtship. The couple shares a literary life and moves between the United States and England. His romantic involvement with another woman creates a deep rift in his marriage. This leads to a separation that severely impacts his wife's mental health.

Otto is a college professor and entomologist living in Massachusetts. His health complications lead to his early death when his daughter is eight years old. This early loss permanently affects his daughter, who frequently uses his memory as a subject in her poetry.

Aurelia is a teacher of secretarial skills at Boston University who takes over as the sole provider for her family after her husband dies. She advocates for traditional feminine roles. This creates an ideological conflict with her daughter's intense creative ambitions.

Robert is an established American poet who instructs a writing seminar attended by Sylvia and Anne Sexton. He actively encourages his students to draw material directly from their personal lives. This advice heavily influences the confessional style of their work.

Anne is a poet who studies alongside Sylvia in Massachusetts. She shares an interest in exploring deeply personal and unvarnished subjects in her writing. She participates in the emerging confessional movement with her peers.

Assia rents an apartment from Sylvia and Ted along with her husband, David. She becomes romantically involved with Ted. This affair directly contributes to the breakdown of her landlord's marriage.

David is a poet who rents a flat from Sylvia and Ted. He shares a literary background with his landlords and moves into the building with his wife, Assia.

Frieda is the eldest child of Sylvia and Ted, born in 1960. She lives with her mother in a London flat following her parents' separation.

Nicholas is the second child of Sylvia and Ted, born in early 1962. He requires constant maternal care during a brutally cold winter in London.