The Child
The six year old protagonist is the son of a poor planter, who used to be a soldier. The boy, who is deaf and mute, appears to be fascinated by the idea of war; he builds himself a wooden sword based on the pictures his father showed him in the past. By taking interest in this, the boy is following his ancestor's footsteps, for they have been involved in war for generations. The child, however, is quite oblivious to what real war is; he is still a naive and innocent boy.
The Child's Father
The man used to be a solder; he is, however, now is a poor planter. Even though his military years are behind him, the protagonist's father is said to still take great interest in military books and pictures, which undoubtedly remind him of his own experience.
The Army of Men
They are an exhausted and beaten down troupe of soldiers retiring from war. Some of the soldiers are seriously wounded, with chunks of their faces coming off, and blood all over their clothes; others are dying as they crawl on the ground.
The Deceased Woman
One can assume she was the child’s mother. Her lifeless body is found lying on the ground by the boy, close to the family house.
