# Martha Shelby — National Avenue character guide > Martha Shelby in National Avenue by Booth Tarkington. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Shelby, dear old Martha **First appearance:** 0001-national-avenue ## Who they are An older woman of the household whose plainspoken warmth and long memory steady the Oliphants when their ambitions and tempers run ahead of them. ## Relationships ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Martha have a complicated romantic history, marked by attraction and betrayal. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _romantic_ Harlan and Martha are entangled in a passionate but destructive romantic affair. ### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan) _rivalry_ Lena and Martha are fierce romantic rivals, each vying for Dan's attention and loyalty. ### [Fred Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/fred_oliphant) _social_ Fred and Martha have a casual acquaintance, mostly through their connections to Dan. ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Martha have a complicated romantic history, marked by attraction and betrayal. ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Martha have a complicated romantic history, marked by attraction and betrayal. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _romantic_ Harlan and Martha are entangled in a passionate but destructive romantic affair. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _romantic_ Harlan and Martha are entangled in a passionate but destructive romantic affair. ### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan) _rivalry_ Lena and Martha are fierce romantic rivals, each vying for Dan's attention and loyalty. ### [Fred Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/fred_oliphant) _social_ Fred and Martha have a casual acquaintance, mostly through their connections to Dan. ### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan) _rivalry_ Lena and Martha are fierce romantic rivals, each vying for Dan's attention and loyalty. ### [Fred Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/fred_oliphant) _social_ Fred and Martha have a casual acquaintance, mostly through their connections to Dan. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iii) Walks with Dan, teases him about his New York habits, and reacts with concealed sorrow upon learning of his engagement. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned by Mrs. Savage as a more suitable match for Dan; Dan and Martha are seen walking together and parting at Mrs. Savage's gate. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vi) Defends Dan against Harlan's criticisms, tries to persuade her father to extend a streetcar line to Ornaby Addition, and challenges Harlan's beliefs. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned by Dan as a fine, dependable girl; Lena immediately dislikes her and perceives her as a rival. ### [The Heat of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/x) Meets Dan at the fence, expresses concern about Lena's dislike of her, and overhears Lena's outburst. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned by Dan as having behaved bravely in a storm on a lake, which upsets Lena. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xii) Described by Mrs. Savage as the woman Dan should have married and as someone who will never look at Harlan. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xiii) Her house is lit up with callers; she is the object of Harlan's unrequited affection and holds Dan in high regard. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xiv) Hosts Dan and Fred Oliphant, serves them coffee, listens warmly to Dan's plans, and is asked to be godmother to Dan's son. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xv) Martha is mentioned as the neighbor Dan visited and appointed as godmother, though she does not appear in the chapter. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvi) Departs for New York and possibly Quebec and England with her father; writes a warm farewell note to the Oliphants. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xviii) Harlan discusses Dan's success with her; she suggests that Harlan's disbelief in Dan's success is stranger than Dan's optimism. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xix) Recently returned from Italy, defends Dan's success against Harlan's criticism, reflects on her travels and her father's independence. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xx) Returns home and finds herself slipping back into old patterns with Harlan, though she finds him irritating yet fascinating. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxi) Returns from Italy, greets Dan cordially, warns him about rivals for Ornaby Addition, and later discusses Lena's jealousy with Harlan. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxii) Sensitive and conflicted, Martha feels hurt by Dan's neglect but defends him to her father; she is aware of her deepening habit with Harlan and her lingering feelings for Dan. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxiii) Martha observes the changes in Ornaby, defends Dan's efforts to preserve trees and create homes, and reflects on the passage of time. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxiv) Shares Harlan's view on the destruction of National Avenue, though she had not previously shown interest in it. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxv) Lena speculates that Martha still hopes to marry Dan if Lena leaves him. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxvi) Explains to Harlan that her feelings for Dan are based on the past, not present love; enjoys mild rivalry between Harlan and George McMillan. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxvii) Attends the symphony with Harlan, worries about Dan's business troubles, and later questions her father about bank loans. ### [The End of Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxx) Comforts Dan in his final moments and learns of Harlan's secret assistance. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxxi) Harlan's wife, who insists on finding beauty in the new district and defends Dan's vision. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/martha_shelby - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters