# Ida Dupont — Martin Birck’s Youth character guide

> Ida Dupont in Martin Birck’s Youth by Hjalmar Söderberg.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** little Ida Dupont, Ida

**First appearance:** 0005-ii

## Snapshot

A girl with large, sparkling black eyes who plays at religion by candlelight in an alcove, drawing the drowsy Martin into a child's ritual that feels like a first, strange intimacy.

## Who they are

Ida leads Martin through a game of devotion — wax candles, gestures, a whispered 'That is our religion' — until both children fall asleep on the bed before her father comes home. Her glowing eyes and easy command of make-believe give Martin his earliest taste of enchantment and unease tangled together. She matters as the first female presence to stir him, a delicate rehearsal for the desires and disenchantments that will follow.

## Relationships

### [Martin Birck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/martin_birck)

_romantic_

Ida is Martin's youthful love interest, representing both desire and the pain of unfulfilled longing.

### [Mamma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/mamma)

_social_

Ida and Mamma interact as part of the social circle, with Mamma possibly chaperoning or disapproving.

### [Martin Birck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/martin_birck)

_romantic_

Ida is Martin's youthful love interest, representing both desire and the pain of unfulfilled longing.

### [Mamma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/mamma)

_social_

Ida and Mamma interact as part of the social circle, with Mamma possibly chaperoning or disapproving.

### [Martin Birck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/martin_birck)

_romantic_

Ida is Martin's youthful love interest, representing both desire and the pain of unfulfilled longing.

## In the story

### [Martin Birck's Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/martin-birck-s-youth)

A childhood playmate of Martin, representing an early innocent connection.

### [The Old Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/the-old-street)

A childhood playmate remembered by Martin.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/iii)

Shows Martin her peepshow box, dresses him up, shares wine, and demonstrates her Catholic faith.

### [The White Cap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/the-white-cap)

Mentioned in a nostalgic recollection of childhood play.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters/ida_dupont
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/characters