The Ancient Mariner is an unnaturally old sailor with skinny limbs, a long grey beard, and a hypnotic gaze. He travels from place to place, motivated by a mysterious urge to share the story of a fateful sea voyage from his youth. He serves as a figure caught between the natural and supernatural worlds, bearing the burden of his inexplicable decision to shoot a bird of good fortune.

The Wedding Guest is a man eagerly attempting to attend a festive celebration with his companions. Despite his strong desire to join the joyful gathering and his vocal frustration at being delayed, he finds himself paralyzed by the Mariner's gaze. He serves as the grounded, human audience for the unfolding supernatural tale.

The Sailors are a crew of 200 men who accompany the Mariner on his voyage. They are ordinary seamen whose attitudes fluctuate based on the weather and their immediate fortunes. They initially welcome a visiting seabird before aggressively turning on the Mariner following his violent actions against it.

The Albatross is a large seabird that arrives during a moment of profound danger for the stranded ship. The crew initially views the creature as a Christian soul and a bearer of good fortune. Its sudden appearance coincides with the breaking of the ice, firmly establishing it as a vital element of the natural world.

Life-in-Death is a supernatural female entity encountered during the Mariner's terrifying voyage. She sails on a tattered ghost ship and possesses a chilling, unnatural beauty defined by white skin, yellow hair, and red lips. She gambles for the souls of the ship's crew and represents a state of eternal suffering.

Death is a supernatural figure who shares a skeletal vessel with Life-in-Death. He functions as a silent, menacing presence on the ocean, engaging in a high-stakes dice game to claim the souls of the stranded crew. He represents the ultimate, fatal threat to the ordinary seamen.

The First Voice is a mysterious, unseen entity that observes the Mariner's journey. It possesses deep knowledge of the spiritual forces governing the natural world, particularly regarding the events at the South Pole. It questions and details the specific spiritual transgressions committed during the voyage.

The Second Voice is an omniscient, unseen presence that converses with the First Voice. Described as possessing a tone as soft as honey-dew, it speaks with authority about the cosmic rules and the specific, ongoing penance required for disrupting nature. It holds a deeper understanding of the divine order.

The Hermit is a reclusive holy man who lives in the woods and prays three times a day. He genuinely enjoys conversing with sailors returning from distant lands. His devotion and religious authority lead the returning Mariner to view him as a potential source of spiritual absolution.

The Pilot is a local boatman who ventures out onto the water with his son and the Hermit to meet the returning ship. He represents the everyday, working world reacting to the strange circumstances of the vessel. He provides critical physical assistance upon the ship's arrival.

The Pilot's Boy is the young son of the local boatman, assisting his father on the water. He provides a grounded, highly emotional reaction to the terrifying elements surrounding the Mariner's sudden arrival, serving as a contrast to the old man's supernatural endurance.