The Speaker

The central character of this poem, as in most poetry, is the speaker. This character narrates the poem's events from the first person. The speaker in this poem can be clearly identified with Donne, who wrote the poem for his wife, Anne. The speaker can be characterized as an intelligent, insightful, and highly emotional figure. He is filled with a strong sense of both grief and sorrow, and able to eloquently share this experience.

The Beloved

The other character in the poem is the beloved person to whom it is addressed. This character is likely based on Donne's wife, Anne, to whom the poem is dedicated. However, the poem expresses such universal themes that it could also apply to any pair of lovers who have to separate for a period of time. The beloved is not clearly characterized in the poem. However, the speaker makes it clear...