The Cartographer
The cartographer, one of the two main characters in this poetry collection, is a symbolic manifestation of a particular worldview. He believes in the inherent goodness of the physical world, and by objectively mapping it, he can provide people with a guide to life while hopefully discovering the way to Zion (Heaven). He is misled, however; Zion isn't a physical place, but a metaphysical one, visiting a person wherever he may be because of his inward character and soul.
The Rastaman
The rastaman, like the cartographer, is a symbol. He represents a particular philosophy as well: an educated version of Rastafarianism, a traditional Jamaican religion. He believes that the earth is naturally corrupt, and since Zion can't be corrupted, it must not be a physical place; it is rather a state that visits one's soul when one practices "heartbless" and "upfullness." Despite his seemingly superstitious beliefs, the rastaman is highly educated (with a PhD from Glasgow), making his arguments seem far more credible.
Babylon
The rastaman uses the symbol of Babylon to represent the world. This is a Biblical allusion: Babylon, called the "City of Man," is both a historical civilization and an eschatological symbol. Babylon was an incredibly wealthy and indulgent civilization known for enslaving the Jews and engaging in pagan luxuries with no respect for morality. Babylon is also used as a symbol of a selfish, materialistic, corrupt world of man, as opposed to the pure kingdom of God. By calling the world Babylon, the rastaman is revealing his categorical dismissal of the physical world as the source of true happiness.
Zion
Zion is another major symbol in this book. Traditionally, Zion is a term for Heaven, and both the cartographer and the rastaman speak at length about how they wish to attain Zion while still on Earth. The cartographer at first believes it's a physical place and tries to map his way there, while the rastaman is insistent that it is within one's soul, not located on any map. Zion, therefore, becomes a symbol of Heaven, the hope of the life to come and the primarily worthwhile thing about life.
The Map
The cartographer's view of maps isn't quite as materialistic as he might believe. In "vii.", he thinks that the motion of the bees and their paths to and through the hive make a sort of map, and only by mental cartography can a person understand the world. In this sense, a map is a symbol of the patterns of life; by recognizing these, a person may correctly interact with the world and with themselves.
