Harold is a young Marine veteran who returns home to Oklahoma after participating in major World War I battles. He suffers from profound apathy and a lack of direction, spending his days sleeping late, reading history books on the front porch, playing pool, and avoiding conversation. He actively dodges complications or responsibilities, showing no interest in courting young women, seeking employment, or reintegrating into his community's expectations.

Harold's mother is a devout Methodist who maintains traditional household roles and cooks breakfast for her children. She is deeply concerned about her son's lack of ambition and stagnation since his return from Europe. Operating from a place of maternal worry, she actively pressures him to find honorable employment, settle down, and reengage with his religious faith.

Helen is Harold's younger sister and an active indoor baseball player at her local school. She affectionately calls her brother "Hare" and jokingly refers to him as her "beau" to her classmates. Unburdened by the adult expectations placed on Harold, she idolizes him and simply seeks his attention and validation.

Harold's father is a successful real estate agent who acts as the traditional patriarch of the Krebs family. Though he does not appear directly in the narrative scenes, his authority dictates the household's operations, including the strict use of the family car for client showings. He expects his son to demonstrate ambition and secure productive employment.