Characterisation of Martha

Martha is the main character in the short story “Weekend” by Fay Weldon, whose thoughts and perspective the narrator follows.

According to her outer characterisation, she is 38  years old (l. 288), married to a man named Martin with whom she has three children, and she works as “a market researcher in an advertising agency” (ll. 21-22).

Inner characterisation

Martha’s inner characterisation is constructed through her actions and thoughts which focus on her relationship with her family and friends, and on her attitude towards work.

Martha is very proud that she works and enjoys her job very much: “Martha loved her work. She didn't have to smile at it. She just did it.” (ll. 520-521); “Amazing how Martha's wages were creeping up almost to the level of Martin's. One day they would overtake.” (ll. 531-532)

However, her professional success is overshadowed by the demands of her husband, her children, and social commitments.

Although she works, Martha is also expected to fill all the traditional duties of a housewife: keeping the house clean, tending to her children, cooking and being a host for family friends during the weekends.

Martha tells herself that she is fortunate in her life, which is so different from her mother’s: “Martha's mother had led a secluded, suspicious life, and made Martha's childhood a chilly and a lonely time. Life now, by comparison, was wonderful for Martha. People, children, houses, conversations, food, drink, theatres - even, now, a career.” (ll. 87-90)

But, much as she tells herself that she is grateful (l. 94), it gradually becomes clear that Martha is overwhelmed and exhausted by her family, social obligations, and house chores: “Mummy, with the roots of melancholy somewhere deep beneath the bustling, busy, everyday self. Busy: ah so busy!” (ll. 82-83)

Martha loves her children very much, but tending to all their needs constantly makes her feel tired: “The right food, the right words, the right play. Doctors for the tonsils: dentists for the molars. Confiscate guns: censor television: encourage creativity. Paints and paper to hand: books on the shelves...” (ll. 102-104)

In relation to her husband, Martha has mixed, conflicting feelings. On the one hand, she thinks of him affectionately and is afraid that he might no longer be attracted to her: “Martha worried about her age, her tendency to complain, and the width of her hips. She took the remarks personally. Was she right to do so?” (ll. 78-79)

Insecure about Martin’s feelings and suspecting that he might be attracted to his secretary, Martha tries constantly to please him. She smiles, tries to satisfy him in bed, and to maintain the image of the capable housewife:

Martin loves goat's cheese,...