The narrator of the sonnet sequence is a traditional writer experiencing creative stagnation. He feels alienated by the new methods of newer artists, heavily relying on older, recognizable phrasing. Despite his frustrations with his repetitive style, his unshakable devotion to his subject provides him a constant artistic center.

A young, fair, and androgynous man to whom the first 126 sonnets are dedicated. Often associated with the dedication initials W. H., he serves as the core inspiration for the speaker's art. The sequence traces his journey from a sought-after bachelor encouraged to marry, to a figure whose wandering affections cause the speaker despair.

A competitor for wealth, fame, and literary privilege who utilizes the experimental methods of newer writers. This figure threatens the speaker by embracing the linguistic trends and social politics that the older poet rejects.

A 16th-century poet, actor, and dramatist who splits his time between his family in Stratford-upon-Avon and his theater work in London. Driven by a need to process his experiences through storytelling, he writes 154 sonnets during periods when the bubonic plague forces theaters to close.

The subject of the latter portion of the sonnet collection. Her presence creates a complicated dynamic, leaving the speaker caught between two different loves.

The wife of William Shakespeare. She stays in Stratford-upon-Avon, raising their large family while her husband builds his dramatist career in the city.

One of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway's children. His early death becomes a lasting source of intrigue and inspiration for writers studying his father's work.

The Earl of Southampton and a court noble. He is an androgynous, fair-featured friend of Shakespeare who receives the dedication for the poem Venus and Adonis.

The Earl of Pembroke, a young courtly figure known for his affairs. Because he frequently declines marriage proposals early in his life, he aligns with the early sonnets encouraging their subject to settle down.

A stage actor who shares the necessary initials for the poem's dedication. His identity plays on the puns found within the text.

A dramatist and courtly spy with a tabloid-worthy life. He maintains an artistic rivalry with Shakespeare, making him a primary historical candidate for the Rival Poet figure in the sonnets.

A writer and literary translator who vies for the attention of Shakespeare's wealthy patron. He represents the social politics of contemporary writers of the era.