# Martin Eden — Character guide

> Key figures in Martin Eden by Jack London.

- [Martin Eden](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/martin_eden.md): A rough sailor who becomes a writer, obsessed with self-education and winning Ruth's love.
- [Ruth Morse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/ruth_morse.md): A bourgeois young woman Martin idealizes and seeks to impress through his writing.
- [Russ Brissenden](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/russ_brissenden.md): A cynical, tubercular poet who befriends Martin and critiques his work.
- [Joe Dawson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/joe_dawson.md): A fellow laundry worker and friend of Martin during his laboring days.
- [Lizzie Connolly](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/lizzie_connolly.md): A working-class girl who loves Martin but cannot compete with Ruth.
- [Mrs. Morse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mrs_morse.md): Ruth's mother, a conventional society woman who disapproves of Martin.
- [Mr. Morse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mr_morse.md): Ruth's father, a wealthy businessman who views Martin as unsuitable.
- [Gertrude](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/gertrude.md): Martin's sister, married to Bernard Higginbotham, who helps him early on.
- [Bernard Higginbotham](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/bernard_higginbotham.md): Martin's brother-in-law, a petty grocer who resents Martin's ambitions.
- [Maria Silva](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/maria_silva.md): Martin's Portuguese landlady who rents him a room and becomes fond of him.
- [Herbert Spencer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/herbert_spencer.md): A philosopher whose works deeply influence Martin's thinking and writing.
- [Arthur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/arthur.md): Ruth's brother who introduces Martin to the Morse family.
- [Norman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/norman.md): Another of Ruth's brothers, dismissive of Martin's background.
- [Will Olney](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/olney.md): A friend from Martin's sailor days who reappears later.
- [Hermann von Schmidt](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/hermann_von_schmidt.md): A German tailor who marries Marian and criticizes Martin.
- [Marian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/marian.md): Martin's other sister, who marries Hermann von Schmidt.
- [Mr. Butler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mr_butler.md): A successful lawyer Martin meets, representing bourgeois success.
- [Professor Caldwell](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/professor_caldwell.md): A university professor who discusses philosophy with Martin.
- [Judge Blount](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/judge_blount.md): A judge who appears at a social gathering and debates with Martin.
- [Norton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/norton.md): A young man in Ruth's social circle who courts her after Martin.
- [Cheese-Face](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/cheese_face.md): A sailor Martin fights in a brawl early in the story.
- [Jim](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/jim.md): A sailor acquaintance from Martin's past.
- [Mrs. Higginbotham](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mrs_higginbotham.md): Bernard Higginbotham's mother, who lives with the family.
- [Mr. Ends](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mr_ends.md): A minor character mentioned in Martin's social circles.
- [Tom](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/tom.md): A minor character in Martin's boarding house.
- [Mr. Cartwright Bruce](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/bruce.md): A literary critic who reviews Martin's work.
- [Mr. Vanderwater](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/vanderwater.md): A magazine editor who rejects Martin's early submissions.
- [Mr. Ford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/mr_ford.md): A publisher who eventually accepts Martin's work.
- [Kreis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/kreis.md): A socialist acquaintance of Brissenden who debates with Martin.
- [Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/hamilton.md): Another socialist who argues with Martin about philosophy.
- [Madame Tetralani](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/tetralani.md): An opera singer mentioned in Martin's social observations.
- [Helen Della Delmar](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/helen_della_delmar.md): A society woman who attends the same parties as Ruth.
- [Professor Hilton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/professor_hilton.md): A professor at the university Martin briefly attends.
- [Teresa Silva](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/teresa_silva.md): Maria Silva's daughter, who helps with the boarding house.
- [Charles Hapgood](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/charles_hapgood.md): A minor character in Martin's social circle.
- [Moti](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/moti.md): A minor character in Martin's boarding house.
- [Miss Smith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/miss_smith.md): A minor character at a social gathering.
- [Charles Butler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/charles_butler.md): A minor character mentioned in relation to Mr. Butler.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_eden_se/characters