Thought is the regal monarch of the palace. He symbolizes the human mind and its capacity for reason. He sits gloriously on a throne, surrounded by harmonious music and beauty. He commands a kingdom initially characterized by peace and angelic beneficence, though his rule faces threats from dark forces.

These dark entities are malevolent beings cloaked in robes of sorrow who threaten the peaceful palace. They symbolize tragedies and dark emotions that work to overthrow reason. They carry the threat of chaotic disarray and unending mourning into the once-radiant domain.

Roderick Usher is the troubled inhabitant of a dark, ghostly mansion. He experiences a variety of physical and mental maladies, including severe hypochondria. He plays a stringed instrument and sings the ballad of the haunted palace. He displays a full consciousness of his own fading reason and seeks solace from the gloomy atmosphere of his family home.

The Echoes are a large troop of magical, glittering spirits residing within the palace walls. They perform a sweet duty, continuously singing in voices of surpassing beauty. Their songs communicate the intellect and cleverness of their king to the outside world.

The Wanderers, also referred to as travellers, walk through the green valley and observe the palace. They serve as the audience to the events within the valley. They initially watch the musical spirits dance, and over time they bear witness to the changing conditions of the palace from the outside.

The narrator is a loyal visitor to the Usher family mansion. He serves as the audience for Roderick's performance of the ballad and witnesses his friend's severe physical and mental decline. He attempts to provide comfort in the gloomy home.

She is the twin sister of Roderick Usher, residing in the dark family mansion. She suffers from her own severe maladies that parallel her brother's decline, adding to the melancholic and fearful atmosphere of the home.