# Maria — Martin Birck’s Youth character guide

> Maria in Martin Birck’s Youth by Hjalmar Söderberg.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dear Maria

**First appearance:** 0007-iv

## Snapshot

Martin's older sister, who teases him with mock-formal birthday congratulations and later marries a country doctor, leaving the childhood home quieter and emptier behind her.

## Who they are

On Martin's seventh birthday she bows and says 'I have the honor to congratulate—' while he blushes and turns to the wall, and she is part of the vanished idyll of the blossoming street. By the time he comes home with his white cap, she has been married a year to a doctor far away in the country, and the house feels hollowed out. She matters as the measure of how much has already slipped away before Martin's story properly begins.

## Relationships

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

_romantic_

Maria is a later romantic interest, offering a more mature but still complicated connection for Martin.

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

_romantic_

Maria is a later romantic interest, offering a more mature but still complicated connection for Martin.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/iv)

Maria is Martin's sister, who listens to the mother's singing and the grandmother's story with wide-open eyes.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/v)

Tries to distract Martin with pictures and paper folding, and notices his crying.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/vi)

Accompanies Martin on New Year's visits and shares his feeling of oppression at Uncle Abraham's house.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/viii)

Martin's companion in springtime play, bringing the feather branch and participating in games.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/ix)

Martin's sister, participates in birthday celebrations and summer activities.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/ii)

Martin's sister, who has been married for a year and lives far away, making the home quieter.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/xi)

Martin's sister, recipient of his letter; he ponders her happiness and life.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_birck_s_youth_se/chapters/iv)

Struggles with dual conscience and shame, weeping in Martin's arms, and fears the consequences of their secret affair.

## Links

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