The Death of the Hired Man Character
M
Mary
Protagonist
Compassionate
Merciful
Forgiving
Empathetic
Mary is the most compassionate character in the poem, symbolizing humanity and kindness. She shows mercy and affection toward Silas despite his past abandonment of them. To her, home is a place of love and forgiveness rather than judgment or rejection. Her line 'He has come home to die' reveals her deep sympathy and understanding.
W
Warren
Supporting
Realistic
Stern
Practical
Stubborn
Warren is Mary's husband, a realistic and stern man who initially believes Silas is unreliable and no longer worthy of being taken back. He embodies the conflict between practicality and humanity. By the end of the poem, discovering Silas dead prompts a change of heart in him. His character arc reflects a gradual movement toward compassion.
S
Silas
Symbolic
Weary
Lonely
Proud
Humble
Silas is an old hired laborer who is poor, tired, and lonely. In the final moments of his life, he returns to Warren and Mary's farmhouse, the only place where he ever felt human warmth. He wishes to work again and prove his worth, symbolizing the universal human need for belonging and dignity. He ultimately finds peace in death.
HW
Harold Wilson
Minor
Educated
Intellectually proud
Young
Ambitious
Harold Wilson is a young college student who once worked on Warren's farm. He frequently argued with Silas, whose knowledge came from real-life experience rather than formal education. Their relationship symbolizes the conflict between the wisdom of the older generation and the intellectual pride of the new. He does not appear directly in the poem's present action but is referenced through recollection.
TF
The Farmhouse
Symbolic
Also known as: Home
Welcoming
Symbolic
Nurturing
Peaceful
Although not a person, the farmhouse functions as a symbolic character in the poem. It represents the concept of home — a place of love, kindness, and final rest. It is the destination Silas seeks in his final moments, and it is here that he finds the peace he had long sought. Its presence anchors the poem's central themes of belonging and forgiveness.