Maggie Nelson
Nelson is the author of this book. She is a protagonist narrator. The major thrust of Nelson’s book which employs the stream-of-consciousness point of view and metaphysical insights into life is the idea of establishing unions and actualizing one’s identity. Besides these, she x-rays other topical life issues including gender-based issues and the legitimacy of homosexual and LGBTQIA lives. She equally dwells on motherhood and the challenges thereof, notably the struggles of raising children and of mother’s obsession with their body shapes and other maternal changes that occur on their bodies.
Harry
Harry Dodge is Maggie’s spouse whom the author constantly refers to for the entire length of the work. Harry’s transmutation from a female to a male gender is one of Maggie’s preoccupations in the work. His sex transmigration furnishes the author’s philosophical permutations on the legitimacy or otherwise of gay practice and how to get the wider society to accord acceptance to gay people and allow them to lead a normal life within the confines of the law. Harry’s gender alteration is a regular well of controversy with his natal family and equally plays a far-reaching role in Nelson's appreciation of people’s various interpretations of identity.
