The Young Woman

The poem's central character is a young woman. She looks older than she is, the beauty of her youth at least partially corrupted by the sorrow she has endured. She is nonetheless still beautiful. She is grieving the loss of her relationship with a man who seduced her, as well as of her virginity. She knew that she should not engage in an intimate relationship with him, and previously considered herself to be a woman of virtue. However, she recognizes that she has been forever changed by their encounter. She has no name in the poem, but will be described as the "young woman" or the "maiden" throughout.

The Seducer

Also unnamed, and not appearing in the poem directly, is the young man who seduced the young woman. He is described in great physical detail: very young and extremely handsome, with curling brown hair, intense eyes...