The Speaker

The speaker is the character who narrates the poem. Although the speaker is not necessarily analogous with the author in poetry, Jonson certainly constructs the poem as though he and the speaker are one and the same. The speaker is described as both a "lover" and a "poet" (1, 4). He is an admirer of beauty and someone always striving to improve himself and his poetic craft. This closely follows the reputation Jonson strives to establish for himself as a writer and as a member of court.

Lady Mary Wroth

The other central character in the poem, and the poem's namesake, is the Lady Mary Wroth. Lady Mary Wroth was a historical figure, a noblewoman and celebrated writer in her own right who played a critical role in the emergence of women's contributions to the English literary canon. The poem characterizes her as an object of attraction, not only...