Narrator
The same person narrates both stories, but much more is learned about him in his description of his visit to the paper mill. In his explanation of why he needs to visit a paper mill in order to buy envelopes, the readers learns that he is a seed salesman and that his seeds have ben “distributed through all the Eastern and Northern States, and even fell into the far soil of Missouri and the Carolinas.” It is made clear in the second half of the story when the narrator refers back to the evening spent at the Temple Inn that he is the same person.
R.F.C.
The “Barrister, Bachelor, and Bencher” who invites the narrator to his evening among the bachelor lawyers at the Elm Court Temple is based on the factual origination point of this section of the story. As noted in Melville’s journal, Robert Francis Cook was one of the partners of the firm which published Melville’s work in England who extended an invitation to the writer to join him for dinner at the real life Elm Court Temple over the course of three nights in December, 1849.
Old Bach
A dark-complexioned, older bachelor who is the “principal proprietor” of the paper mill.
Cupid
Young, fresh-faced, apple-cheeked, impudent tour guide for the narrator through the paper mill. As the sickly pale young virginal women who operate the machinery which transforms long strips of rags into paper go about their business in silence, Cupid explains the process and answers all queries posed by the narrator.
The Bachelors
Overly stuffed members of the British judicial system who sit, drink, eat and tell stories of about a past with which they have no connection and who seem incapable of producing anything of worth for the narrator to take with him as his leave from the Temple Inn.
The Maids
The pale, blank-looking young virgins who go about their business of blankly carrying out their specific roles in the system which produces paper inside the mill.
