The Soldier Boy
The central character of the poem is never identified by name. The opening line refers to him only as a “simple soldier boy.” The rest of that first stanza goes on to portray him as a typical young man who is content with life and optimistic about the future. The experience of serving as a soldier in World War I dramatically transforms him, however. He sinks so deeply into depression and despondency that he winds up becoming a victim of the war by his own hand when he shoots himself in the head.
The Speaker
The speaker is also not identified except to announce in the opening line that he knew the soldier boy back when he was still innocent and optimistic (before the war). The speaker's contempt for the ignorant public is revealed in the final stanza as he criticizes members of the public who mindlessly cheer for soldiers out of a knee-jerk expression of nationalistic pride.
The Crowds
The general public is portrayed in the poem as crowds ignorant of the true cost of war. They support the war efforts with jingoistic enthusiasm, and live far away from the battlefields. The speaker advises the crowds to sneak home (implying shame), and pray to never know of the true hell of war.
