Character guide

Martin Eden

major

Also known as Martin, Mart, Mart Eden

A rough sailor who becomes a writer, obsessed with self-education and winning Ruth's love.

Ruth Morse

major

Also known as Ruth

A bourgeois young woman Martin idealizes and seeks to impress through his writing.

Russ Brissenden

supporting

Also known as Brissenden

A cynical, tubercular poet who befriends Martin and critiques his work.

Joe Dawson

supporting

Also known as Dawson, Joe

A fellow laundry worker and friend of Martin during his laboring days.

Lizzie Connolly

supporting

Also known as Lizzie

A working-class girl who loves Martin but cannot compete with Ruth.

Mrs. Morse

supporting

Also known as Mr. and Mrs. Morse

Ruth's mother, a conventional society woman who disapproves of Martin.

Mr. Morse

supporting

Ruth's father, a wealthy businessman who views Martin as unsuitable.

Gertrude

supporting

Martin's sister, married to Bernard Higginbotham, who helps him early on.

Bernard Higginbotham

supporting

Also known as Higginbotham, Mr. Higginbotham

Martin's brother-in-law, a petty grocer who resents Martin's ambitions.

Maria Silva

supporting

Also known as Maria, Minnie, Poor Maria

Martin's Portuguese landlady who rents him a room and becomes fond of him.

Herbert Spencer

minor

Also known as Spencer

A philosopher whose works deeply influence Martin's thinking and writing.

Arthur

minor

Ruth's brother who introduces Martin to the Morse family.

Norman

minor

Also known as Norrie

Another of Ruth's brothers, dismissive of Martin's background.

Will Olney

minor

Also known as Billy, Bill, Olney, Willie

A friend from Martin's sailor days who reappears later.

Hermann von Schmidt

minor

Also known as Hermann

A German tailor who marries Marian and criticizes Martin.

Marian

minor

Also known as Mary

Martin's other sister, who marries Hermann von Schmidt.

Mr. Butler

minor

A successful lawyer Martin meets, representing bourgeois success.

Professor Caldwell

minor

Also known as Caldwell

A university professor who discusses philosophy with Martin.

Judge Blount

minor

A judge who appears at a social gathering and debates with Martin.

Norton

minor

A young man in Ruth's social circle who courts her after Martin.

Cheese-Face

minor

A sailor Martin fights in a brawl early in the story.

Jim

minor

Also known as James Grant

A sailor acquaintance from Martin's past.

Mrs. Higginbotham

minor

Bernard Higginbotham's mother, who lives with the family.

Mr. Ends

minor

A minor character mentioned in Martin's social circles.

Margey

minor

A young girl Martin briefly encounters.

Tom

minor

A minor character in Martin's boarding house.

Mr. Cartwright Bruce

minor

Also known as Bruce, Cartwright Bruce

A literary critic who reviews Martin's work.

Mr. Vanderwater

minor

Also known as Vanderwater

A magazine editor who rejects Martin's early submissions.

Mr. Ford

minor

Also known as Ford

A publisher who eventually accepts Martin's work.

Kreis

minor

A socialist acquaintance of Brissenden who debates with Martin.

Hamilton

minor

Also known as Strawn-Hamilton

Another socialist who argues with Martin about philosophy.

Henry Vaughn Marlow

minor

Also known as Marlow, Vaughn Marlow, Harry

A poet Martin meets through Brissenden.

Madame Tetralani

minor

Also known as Tetralani

An opera singer mentioned in Martin's social observations.

Helen Della Delmar

minor

Also known as Miss Delmar

A society woman who attends the same parties as Ruth.

Professor Hilton

minor

A professor at the university Martin briefly attends.

Teresa Silva

minor

Also known as Teresa

Maria Silva's daughter, who helps with the boarding house.

Charles Hapgood

minor

Also known as Charley Hapgood

A minor character in Martin's social circle.

Mr. Praps

minor

Also known as Praps

A minor acquaintance of Martin's.

Barillo

minor

Also known as little Barillo

A minor character mentioned in passing.

Moti

minor

A minor character in Martin's boarding house.

Miss Smith

minor

A minor character at a social gathering.

Charles Butler

minor

A minor character mentioned in relation to Mr. Butler.

Sir John Value

minor

A minor character at a social event.

Julia

minor

A minor character in Martin's past.