Narrator
The Narrator is referred to as "William Lee" and "Lee/Willie the Agent" throughout the book, and is William S. Burroughs' alter ego. He travels from New York, throughout the United States and eventually arrives in Mexico. Following this, he travels into an extradimensional/hallucinatory realm where he documents the depravities of the people he comes into contact with.
Dr. Benway
Dr. Benway is one of the narrator's contacts with Islam Inc. He is a discredited surgeon who uses nonethical, sadomasochistic methods as a means to continue practicing mind-control and mental manipulation. He is seemingly without conscience, and displays no remorse or empathy for his disreputable ways.
A.J.
A.J. is an operative of Islam Inc. He commits violent crimes under chaotic circumstances while pretending to be a fun-loving, devil-may-care, womanizing bachelor.
Hassan
Hassan is another one of the Narrator's contacts with Islam Inc. Throughout the book, he adopts multiple aliases and separate identities. He begins his career as a petty hustler and eventually becomes a prominent drug/sex merchant.
Clem and Jody
Clem and Jody operate as a unit for Islam Inc. They are Russian sympathizers who spend their time slanderizing the United States by spreading false propaganda.
Dr. Berger
Dr. Berger is a radio host who has public discussions with sufferers of multiple mental illnesses.
Hauser and O'Brien
Hauser and O'Brien are the narcotics agents whom the Narrator believes he shoots in New York.
The Rube
The Rube is one of the Narrator's fellow junkies who appears in the beginning of the book. The Narrator leaves the Rube behind in New York after deeming him a "liability."
Vigilante
The Vigilante is another one of the Narrator's fellow junkies from New York, who has a misplaced sense of self-righteousness and a penchant for fighting and murdering. He is eventually committed to a mental institution.
