# Ma — Short Fiction character guide

> Ma in Short Fiction by Fritz Leiber.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0058-ii

## Who they are

A maternal figure in one or more stories.

## Relationships

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_family_

Ma is Violet Gusterson's mother, often exasperated by her daughter's dramatic behavior.

### [Pa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/pa)

_family_

Ma and Pa are a long-married couple whose relationship is defined by quiet routine and unspoken affection.

### [Simon Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/simon_great)

_friendship_

Ma and Simon Great are old friends who often share tea and gossip.

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_family_

Ma is Violet Gusterson's mother, often exasperated by her daughter's dramatic behavior.

### [Simon Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/simon_great)

_friendship_

Ma and Simon Great are old friends who often share tea and gossip.

### [Pa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/pa)

_family_

Ma and Pa are a long-married couple whose relationship is defined by quiet routine and unspoken affection.

### [Pa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/pa)

_family_

Ma and Pa are a long-married couple whose relationship is defined by quiet routine and unspoken affection.

### [Simon Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/simon_great)

_friendship_

Ma and Simon Great are old friends who often share tea and gossip.

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_family_

Ma is Violet Gusterson's mother, often exasperated by her daughter's dramatic behavior.

## In the story

### [A Pail of Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/a-pail-of-air)

The mother, who is often sick and miserable but perks up when the strangers arrive, showing interest in their way of life.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/iii)

Maudie (Ma) is a company member who brings Greta raw vegetables and ensures she eats healthily.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/vi)

Briefly mentioned as Maud, playing the Third Witch and Lady Macduff, who exchanges a grin with the narrator.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/ma
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters