# Martha Burden — Plum Bun character guide

> Martha Burden in Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the slate-eyed Martha Burden, old Martha

**First appearance:** 0019-i

## Who they are

A sharp-tongued boarding house owner in New York.

## Relationships

### [Angela Murray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/characters/angela_murray)

_friendship_

A fellow artist and supportive friend in Angela's social circle.

### [Angela Murray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/characters/angela_murray)

_friendship_

A fellow artist and supportive friend in Angela's social circle.

### [Angela Murray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/characters/angela_murray)

_friendship_

A fellow artist and supportive friend in Angela's social circle.

## In the story

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

Martha Burden hosts a gathering of intellectuals and artists in her Village apartment, where Angela meets Roger Fielding.

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

Martha Burden's advice on how to make Roger want Angela influences Angela's strategic behavior in her relationship with Roger.

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

Martha is discussed as a tense, brooding personality who lives with Starr before marriage due to her unconventional beliefs. Roger forced Starr to marry her, and she struggles with the loss of spontaneity in a bound relationship.

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

Martha is another of Angela's advisors, a woman of independent thought. Angela has begun to adopt her slightly professional, didactic attitude.

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

Martha hosts a party that Angela and Roger attend; she is described as stable but reserved and conservative in friendship.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/i)

A friend of Angela's, too absorbed in her own life to be a close confidante.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/i)

Organizes the committee to fight for Miss Powell; expresses frustration at Miss Powell's withdrawal.

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

Drives Angela to the dock with Ladislas Starr.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/characters/martha_burden
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/characters