# Marie Shabata — O Pioneers! character guide > Marie Shabata in O Pioneers! by Willa Cather. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Marie, Maria, Shabata **First appearance:** 0006-part-ii-neighboring-fields ## Snapshot Frank's young Bohemian wife, city-bred, impulsive, and warm, whose beauty and high spirits make her the bright spot of the Divide and its most exposed. ## Who they are Marie married Frank in a rush of girlish romance and now keeps house for a husband who resents her ease with everyone else. She is generous, restless, and barely older than Emil, and Alexandra's habit of sending him to help her only tightens the knot. Her vitality is the novel's warmth and its coming sorrow. ## Relationships ### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson) _romantic_ Emil and Marie share a passionate, forbidden love that ultimately leads to tragedy. ### [Frank Shabata](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/frank_shabata) _family_ Frank and Marie are unhappily married, with Frank's jealousy and possessiveness driving them apart. ### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson) _friendship_ Alexandra and Marie are close friends, though Alexandra is unaware of Marie's secret romance with Emil. ### [Carl Linstrum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/carl_linstrum) _friendship_ Carl and Marie are friendly acquaintances, with Carl observing her unhappiness in marriage. ### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson) _romantic_ Emil and Marie share a passionate, forbidden love that ultimately leads to tragedy. ### [Emil Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/emil_bergson) _romantic_ Emil and Marie share a passionate, forbidden love that ultimately leads to tragedy. ### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson) _friendship_ Alexandra and Marie are close friends, though Alexandra is unaware of Marie's secret romance with Emil. ### [Frank Shabata](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/frank_shabata) _family_ Frank and Marie are unhappily married, with Frank's jealousy and possessiveness driving them apart. ### [Alexandra Bergson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/alexandra_bergson) _friendship_ Alexandra and Marie are close friends, though Alexandra is unaware of Marie's secret romance with Emil. ### [Carl Linstrum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/carl_linstrum) _friendship_ Carl and Marie are friendly acquaintances, with Carl observing her unhappiness in marriage. ### [Carl Linstrum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/carl_linstrum) _friendship_ Carl and Marie are friendly acquaintances, with Carl observing her unhappiness in marriage. ### [Frank Shabata](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/frank_shabata) _family_ Frank and Marie are unhappily married, with Frank's jealousy and possessiveness driving them apart. ## In the story ### [Part II: Neighboring Fields](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/part-ii-neighboring-fields) Marie is at the center of the chapter's events, her relationship with Emil and Frank highlighted. ### [The Divide Transformed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/i) A vivacious young woman with a merry contralto voice, driving a cart. She is cheerful and sociable, but mentions her husband Frank's crankiness. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iv) Referred to as little Marie Tovesky; now married to Frank and living on Carl's old farm; admired by Alexandra for her energy and spirit. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/v) Goes duck hunting with Emil but is overcome with pity for the birds, echoing Ivar's philosophy. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/vi) Greets Alexandra and Carl enthusiastically, shows them the orchard, and later comforts Frank after his outburst. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/viii) Marie makes butter, then picks cherries in the orchard with Emil, discussing trees, religion, and relationships before a tense emotional exchange. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/ix) Watches from the basement doorway, her 'tiger eyes' flashing, causing Emil to stop his playful antics with Angélique. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as Alexandra's only friend besides Carl; Emil is obsessed with her, recalling her at the fair and imagining her love. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/i) Marie is introspective and troubled, brooding over her marriage to Frank and her feelings for Emil. She finds comfort in her faith and in memories of Emil's letters. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/ii) Referenced as someone whose mind Alexandra might have guessed if she had more imagination. ### [Part IV: The White Mulberry Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/part-iv-the-white-mulberry-tree) Emil's beloved, trapped in an unhappy marriage; she meets Emil secretly and is killed by her husband Frank. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/i) Dressed in a Bohemian costume and coral earrings, she is excited to see Emil and questions him eagerly; later feels a chill from Alexandra's calm. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/ii) Irritated with everyone, including Alexandra; admits she ran away with Frank because she was in love with him but now regrets it; confesses her love for Emil. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iii) Referenced as having told Emil that Alexandra is a handsome woman. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/v) Marie is consumed by her love for Emil and her loneliness. She decides to let Emil go, believing she must sacrifice her own happiness to avoid harming others. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/vi) Marie is found asleep in the orchard, exhausted by her 'new life of perfect love.' She awakens in Emil's arms, whispering that she was dreaming and pleading not to have her dream taken away. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/vii) Shot by her husband Frank while meeting Emil in the orchard; she dies after crying out. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/viii) Found dead beside Emil, having bled from gunshot wounds, with a look of contentment. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/chapters/iii) Discussed as the object of Emil's love, remembered for her beauty and vitality. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters/marie_shabata - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/o_pioneers_se/characters