# Margaret Powers — Soldiers’ Pay character guide > Margaret Powers in Soldiers’ Pay by William Faulkner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mrs. Powers, Margaret, Margaret Mahon-Powers **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Who they are A war widow who attaches herself to a dying soldier's homecoming, moving through other people's griefs with a calm that costs her more than she shows. ## Relationships ### [Joe Gilligan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _social_ Cecily Saunders and Margaret Powers are acquaintances navigating the social aftermath of war. ### [Donald Mahon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/donald_mahon) _romantic_ Donald Mahon and Margaret Powers share a poignant, tragic romantic bond complicated by his war injuries. ### [Januarius Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/januarius_jones) _psychological_ Januarius Jones attempts to psychologically manipulate Margaret Powers, who resists his advances. ### [Emmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/emmy) _social_ Emmy and Margaret Powers are wary acquaintances, with Emmy jealous of Margaret's connection to Donald. ### [Donald Mahon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/donald_mahon) _romantic_ Donald Mahon and Margaret Powers share a poignant, tragic romantic bond complicated by his war injuries. ### [Joe Gilligan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Januarius Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/januarius_jones) _psychological_ Januarius Jones attempts to psychologically manipulate Margaret Powers, who resists his advances. ### [Joe Gilligan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _social_ Cecily Saunders and Margaret Powers are acquaintances navigating the social aftermath of war. ### [Emmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/emmy) _social_ Emmy and Margaret Powers are wary acquaintances, with Emmy jealous of Margaret's connection to Donald. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _social_ Cecily Saunders and Margaret Powers are acquaintances navigating the social aftermath of war. ## In the story ### [Soldiers' Pay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/soldiers-pay) A widow who interacts with Donald and others, reflecting on loss and duty. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) A war widow who observes the situation with a sense of weary understanding, having lost her own husband. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Young woman who joins the group, helps care for Mahon, wears a plain gold band. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Lying awake in her hotel room, she reflects on her husband Dick's death and feels a sense of betrayal by fate. She discovers Mahon is going blind and conspires with Gilligan to help him. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Gently manages Lowe's advances, persuades him to go home, and kisses him coolly; she is focused on taking Mahon home. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Listens to Emmy's confession, offering a detached and reflective perspective on love and duty. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Observes Cecily and the rector with detached interest, contemplates telling them about Donald's scar but decides against it, and feels bitter weariness. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Accompanies the rector to the station, advises Cecily to meet Donald inside, and catches Cecily as she faints. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Reflects on her dead husband Dick and her marriage to Donald Mahon; comforts Emmy. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Receives a letter from Julian Lowe; discusses Cecily and Donald with Gilligan; comforts Emmy after Donald fails to recognize her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Firmly insists Mr. Saunders visit Donald; later persuades him to let Cecily help Donald's morale. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Mrs. Powers finds Emmy hiding behind the kitchen door and gently tries to comfort her, urging patience with Donald's recovery. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Offers Emmy a dress and reveals her husband was killed in the war, forging a bond of shared grief. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/viii) Listens to Emmy's story, comforts her, and later receives news about Donald's eyesight. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Watches Cecily's mistaken embrace with interest. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Visits Mrs. Burney, offering companionship and understanding as a fellow war widow. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Remains calm and efficient, managing the household and reflecting on her own emotional detachment. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Meets the specialist, discusses Donald's condition, and takes charge of the situation. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Reveals her past marriage to Dick and her guilt over his death; discusses Cecily with Gilligan. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Mrs. Powers mounts the steps onto the veranda with Gilligan. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Comforts the rector and helps manage Donald's care, expressing disdain for Doctor Gary. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Referenced as 'Powers, the officer' who is shot by a panicked soldier at the end of the chapter. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Present at the rectory, her thoughts drift to memories of her dead husband Dick. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Recipient of Julian's letter, addressed as 'Dear Margaret'. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Mrs. Powers rides in the back seat of Mrs. Worthington's car. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Observes the dance and the ex-soldiers, reflecting on their displacement. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as being with Donald in a car, not directly present in the scene. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xii) Observes the interactions with a critical eye, eventually leaving to dance with Madden, asserting her independence. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xiv) Attends the dance, is given a 'rush' by the men, dances competently, and leaves early. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Confronts Cecily about her engagement to Donald, urging her to consider her obligations. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Comforts Cecily, allows her to see Donald, then intervenes to prevent Cecily from hurting him. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Visits the Mahon home, observes the family's struggle with Donald's return. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Recipient of the letter, deeply missed and idealized by the writer. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Sharp and perceptive, she rebuffs Jones's advances and discusses Cecily's behavior with Gilligan. ### [Spring Negotiations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Referenced as having repeated Mr. Saunders' conversation to the rector and supporting the marriage. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Remains calm and guarded during the encounter, defending Cecily and Donald against gossip, but is offended by Mrs. Burney's invasive questions. ### [VII: Voices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii-voices) Bids a final goodbye to her dead husband Dick, haunted by his memory. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/viii) Confronts Cecily about her engagement to Donald, trying to help but facing hostility. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Observes Emmy's care for Donald, considers that Emmy should marry him, and later asks Emmy directly about marrying Donald. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xi) Observes Cecily's arrival and departure; later tells the rector she intends to marry Donald Mahon. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xii) The recipient of Julian's letter, addressed as 'Darling Margaret' and the object of his devotion. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xiii) Now the new Mrs. Mahon; feels alone and sick with everything, haunted by thoughts of Dick; reaches out to Gilligan and is grateful when he softens. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Now married to Donald Mahon, she lives at the rectory and remarks with quiet wit on the situation. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Recipient of Julian's postcard. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) The daughter-in-law who tenderly cares for the rector, wiping his face, giving him a cigarette and whisky, and holding him as he acknowledges she will not stay. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Mrs. Mahon, feeling freer and at peace, prepares to leave by train. She shares a deep conversation with Gilligan, kisses him, but refuses to marry him due to his name. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) She wrote the letter informing Julian Lowe of her marriage and her husband's death. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters