The Speaker

The speaker is a poet who has become disillusioned with the progression of the world in regards to art, commerce, and love. Although their gender is not overtly stated, it’s implied that they are a man because they’re juxtaposed against the “labor” of maintaining one’s womanhood — the female companion suggests that the speaker has not experienced this themself. The speaker is world-weary and old fashioned, preferring the art of traditional poetry forms and romantic courtship. In discussion with their companions, the speaker admits that anything worthwhile deserves attention and effort. They’re portrayed as a romantic and dreamy persona who has reached a later stage in life in which much of the magic has been lost.

The Lover

One of the two female companions is a love interest of the speaker, who has either been a lover in the past or who rejected the...