Characters Call Me Athena Colby Cedar Smith

Mary Skandalaris: A Character Analysis in Call Me Athena

Overview

Mary Skandalaris is the central character and first-person narrator of Call Me Athena. A young Greek-French American woman coming of age in 1930s Detroit, she embodies the pull between tradition and self-determination. The author, Colby Cedar Smith, drew on family stories about her own grandmother Mary — a woman who became a successful businesswoman in the 1950s, “rocked the pantsuit” when aprons were the norm, and never let misfortune hold her back. In the novel, Mary Skandalaris carries that same fierce spirit while navigating grief, poverty, and the rigid gender expectations of her era.

Plot Role

Mary is the protagonist and sole narrative voice of the novel. Her inner world is the lens through which readers experience the story. The opening poem, “Grief consumes like a brush fire,” establishes Mary’s emotional state: she is grappling with a profound loss that she describes as an unstoppable force. She compares herself to someone standing helpless with a “useless bucket” as the field burns. This metaphor frames her entire journey — she is not passive, but her attempts to contain her pain often feel futile.

The novel follows her struggle for independence and true love against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Evidence from the author’s note confirms that the real Mary worked as an elevator girl for Henry Ford and later defied gender norms by entering the boardroom. The fictional Mary’s actions — fighting for autonomy, seeking love on her own terms, and breaking free from familial and societal constraints — drive the plot forward.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Mary’s primary motivation is an unyielding desire for independence. She longs to define herself outside the roles of daughter, future wife, and caretaker. This is shown through her willingness to work in a factory or as an elevator girl, jobs that expose her to the world beyond her immigrant household. Her grief serves as both a burden and a catalyst: the loss that opens the novel (“Grief consumes like a brush fire”) fuels her yearning for something more stable and self-chosen.

She possesses an inner resilience and courage. The author notes that the real Mary “always summoned the courage to do what she needed to do, even when she was afraid.” This trait is evident in the fictional Mary’s decisions, such as entering a traditionally male workplace and asserting her romantic choices against family expectations. Her intelligence and storytelling ability are highlighted through her poetic narration, a legacy of the author’s own grandmother who could “hold an entire room with her humor, her intellect, and her infectious, high-pitched laugh.”

Chronological Arc

The novel is set in 1934 Detroit, but Mary’s arc is informed by the family history recounted in the author’s note. The narrative begins with Mary’s present grief — likely the recent death of a loved one, though the evidence does not specify whom. As the story progresses, she confronts the limitations placed on her as a woman and the daughter of immigrants. She takes steps toward independence, such as seeking employment and pursuing a relationship that defies convention.

The real Mary’s biography offers a companion arc: she became an elevator girl at age 18, married Bill Smith at 21, and later became a successful businesswoman. The novel mirrors this trajectory, though specific plot events (beyond the opening) are not supplied in the evidence. What is clear is that Mary’s journey moves from helpless grief toward empowered action, culminating in a choice that asserts her own identity.

Relationships

Family bonds are central to Mary’s character. As the daughter of Greek and French immigrants, she is caught between two cultures — a common theme in the immigrant experience. Her parents, Giorgos and Jeanne, represent Old World expectations, and Mary’s struggle for independence likely creates tension with them. The author’s note mentions her grandmother’s stories about “the poverty her family faced” and “how she had to fight for her independence,” suggesting that family both supports and restricts her.

Mary’s eventual marriage to Bill Smith, mentioned in the author’s note, marks a key relationship that presumably offers her the true love she seeks. The real Mary “never let her misfortune hold her back,” a quality that likely extends to how she navigates her relationships in the novel — choosing partners and paths that align with her own vision rather than societal duty.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Though the evidence is limited, several key decisions can be inferred from the novel’s themes and the author’s biographical details:

  • Choosing to work outside the home: Mary decides to become an elevator girl at the Ford factory. This decision places her in a public, male-dominated sphere and challenges the domestic role expected of women in her community. The consequence is a broader perspective on life and a taste of financial independence.

  • Pursuing love against family wishes: Mary’s desire for true love likely brings her into conflict with her parents, who may prefer a match within the Greek community. Her choice to follow her heart leads to marriage with Bill Smith, a man outside that tradition, strengthening her individuality.

  • Confronting grief: Rather than smother her pain, Mary eventually processes it through storytelling and action. The opening poem’s “useless bucket” gives way to agency. The consequence is a character who transforms loss into strength, a lesson the author’s grandmother modeled in real life.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Mary embodies every major theme of the novel.

  • Grief and Loss: The brush fire metaphor from chapter 1 is Mary’s symbol for the irrevocable change grief brings. She learns that some losses cannot be contained; they reshape the landscape of her life. See the grief and loss theme.

  • Identity and Independence: Mary’s struggle to define herself as “Athena” — the name she invokes in the title — suggests a desire for wisdom, strength, and self-authorship. Her journey is a search for identity apart from her family’s expectations. Explore the identity and independence theme.

  • Immigrant Experience: As a first-generation American, Mary navigates the push and pull between her parents’ culture and her own American upbringing. This tension shapes her choices and relationships. Learn more about the immigrant experience theme.

  • Legacy and Memory: The author’s note reveals that the real Mary lost her memories to Alzheimer’s, yet her stories live on in the novel. The fictional Mary, through narration, preserves her own legacy — a testament to how memory and storytelling outlast even the most consuming grief. Visit the legacy and memory theme.

  • Gender Roles and Expectations: Mary’s ambition to be a businesswoman in the 1930s and 1940s defies the era’s gender roles. She “rocked the pantsuit” when women were expected to wear aprons, a symbol of her rejection of prescribed domesticity. Read about gender roles and expectations.

Five Questions and Answers

Q1: Why does Mary compare grief to a brush fire in the opening poem?
A1: The metaphor illustrates grief as a force that begins small, seems containable, but rapidly spreads beyond control. Mary’s helplessness with a “useless bucket” reflects how she feels powerless to stop the emotional devastation.

Q2: What job did Mary hold according to the author’s note?
A2: Mary worked as an elevator girl for Henry Ford at the Ford factory in Detroit. This job exposed her to the working world and contributed to her fight for independence.

Q3: How does Mary’s family background influence her character?
A3: As the daughter of Greek and French immigrants, Mary experiences cultural pressure to adhere to traditional roles. Her struggle for independence is partly a rebellion against the Old World expectations of her parents, Giorgos and Jeanne.

Q4: What is the significance of the novel’s title, Call Me Athena?
A4: Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy, symbolizes Mary’s desire to claim her own wisdom, strength, and identity. The title reflects her journey toward self-definition and empowerment.

Q5: How does the author’s grandmother relate to the fictional Mary?
A5: The author’s grandmother, also named Mary, inspired the character. She was a successful businesswoman, a gifted storyteller, and a figure of resilience. The novel is based on family stories but takes creative liberties with actual events, as explained in the author’s note.

For a deeper understanding of Mary’s journey and the novel’s resolution, read the ending explained and the questions and answers page.