The Speaker: The speaker of this poem is an angry priest/religious person (George Herbert himself). He feels very angry and frustrated with his spiritual life. He thinks that serving God gives him only pain and no joy. At the beginning, he shouts: “I struck the board, and cried, No more!” This means he wants to stop obeying God. But slowly, he begins to remember God’s love. In the end, when he hears God calling him “Child,” he becomes calm and gentle again.

God (the Silent Listener): God is not seen directly in the poem, but He is present silently all the time. He listens to the speaker’s anger with patience. At the end, He speaks softly: “Child!” This one word shows God’s kindness and forgiveness. It changes the speaker’s heart completely. So, God is the symbol of love, peace, and understanding in the poem.

The Inner Voice (the Soul or Conscience): Some readers think that the voice calling “Child” at the end may also be the speaker’s own inner voice, guided by faith. It reminds him that he truly belongs to God. This voice helps him return from rebellion to spiritual peace.