Narrator
As this is meant to be a poem that on the one hand expresses an opinion and also helps in convincing dissenting voices, the role of the narrator is to lead the reader along the path. Most of the poem is written for an undisclosed audience in the third person, leaving the identity of the narrator unknown. However, as this poem is preceded by a longer explanatory section, the voice of the narrator can be expected to voice the opinion of the author.
The Popists
The main antagonist of the poem is found in the conflict between the Catholic Church and the more modernist Anglican Church. The Catholic adheres to the voice of the pope and listens to the theologians that came before him. In the opinion of the narrator of this poem, this leads them off the path of truth and distorts the true word of God. The only Catholics the poem considers to be good people are those that think beyond the teachings of their bishops and theologians and recognize the truth that all Christian faith is based on one base truth, given to Moses. This truth has been distorted by all different Christian denominations and only by recognizing this truth can the Catholic become a good human that will be accepted into heaven.
The fanatic protestant
Dryden not only criticizes the failure of the Catholic Church, but also discusses the problems within the religious discussion within the protestant faith. While all Protestants rightfully object to the assumed infallibility of the Roman Pope, the narrator still concedes that they are muddled in their view of what the true and only faith is.
The Layman
While never directly addressed, the Layman plays an important role within the poem. The poem is directed towards the laypeople of the time, urging them to allow themselves to interpret the scripture themselves. The narrator gives full responsibility over their own lives to the laymen, taking authority of interpretation away from the Roman Church and Protestant Fanatics.
