The speaker of Bob Dylan’s poem does not have a gender or a name, allowing the voice to take on a universal or popular quality. However, the mere presence of the questions gives the speaker some personality and character traits. The speaker is a curious and engaged person. Their questions tell the reader that they are thoughtful and conscious of what is happening in the world. The speaker is not a misanthropic or apathetic person. Instead, they grasp the injustices that permeate the world, and their awareness prompts a series of deep inquiries into the cruelty and inhumanity of the world.

The notable themes of the poem—injustice, brutality, and inhumanity—determine the poem’s weary tone. The speaker sounds sad—they are bringing up longstanding, dispiriting issues. These problems have haunted society for a long time. The words “[h]ow many” start the first lines in Stanzas 1-3. The speaker is tired of the world’s ails. They want them to end, but they do not offer a concrete solution. It is as if they are too tired to provide a specific answer. The pensive tone prohibits a tangible fix. If the speaker gave a tangible, actionable answer, their tone might be less sad and more hopeful.