- Clara Wieland is the narrator of the story, and the sister of Theodore Wieland. She is an intellectual, and has strong character. She is secretly in love with Henry Pleyel.
- Theodore Wieland hears voices of other people, and believes these voices tell him to kill his family.
- Catharine Wieland (née Pleyel) is Theodore's wife, and childhood friend of Clara.
- Henry Pleyel is Catharine's brother, and Clara's friend. He is extremely practical and continually attempts to understand the mysterious voices empirically.
- Carwin is a mysterious stranger who appears at the Wielands' house. He is a biloquist – able to speak in different voices – and the source of many of the disembodied voices heard by Theodore.
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