# Lizzie Connolly — Martin Eden character guide

> Lizzie Connolly in Martin Eden by Jack London.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lizzie

**First appearance:** 0006-v

## Snapshot

A working-class girl whose plain, unlettered love for Martin cannot compete with the cultured ideal he has built around Ruth Morse.

## Who they are

Lizzie Connolly belongs to the world Martin came from — the world of working women and harsh voices he is trying to purge himself of. She loves him simply and without theory, offering a devotion that asks nothing of his grammar or his manuscripts, and she stands as the living alternative to Ruth's pale, cultivated ideal. Her presence in the story quietly indicts Martin's belief that beauty, intellect, and love all dwell 'up above' in society, and her fate shadows the cost of his ascent.

## Relationships

### [Martin Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/martin_eden)

_romantic_

Lizzie is a working-class woman who genuinely loves Martin, but he cannot reciprocate her feelings due to his obsession with Ruth and his own emotional detachment.

### [Martin Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/martin_eden)

_romantic_

Lizzie is a working-class woman who genuinely loves Martin, but he cannot reciprocate her feelings due to his obsession with Ruth and his own emotional detachment.

### [Martin Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/martin_eden)

_romantic_

Lizzie is a working-class woman who genuinely loves Martin, but he cannot reciprocate her feelings due to his obsession with Ruth and his own emotional detachment.

## In the story

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xii)

Seen on the street with her friend, nods boldly at Martin, and is described by Ruth as a pretty girl with regular features.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xxix)

Mentioned in Martin's thoughts as a comparison to his sister Marian, representing the working-class girl with more fire and life.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xlii)

Now a woman with wild, defiant beauty; shows deep admiration and love for Martin, but he gently rejects her romantic advances while offering financial support.

### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xliii)

Regrets Martin's greatness as it widens the space between them; yields to his persuasions to attend night school and business college and improve her appearance.

### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xlv)

Notices Martin's mental sickness and expresses concern, wishing the right woman could make him care.

### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/chapters/xlvi)

Lizzie hides in the crowd at the wharf to see Martin off. Martin briefly considers taking her with him but recoils in panic.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/characters/lizzie_connolly
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_eden_se/characters