Margaret in The Booklover's Library: Character Analysis

Overview of Margaret Avory in The Booklover's Library

Margaret Avory is Emma Taylor's colleague and closest friend at the Boots Booklover's Library in Nottingham. She appears early in the novel as the librarian who shows Emma around on her first day, and she quickly becomes a steady presence in Emma's wartime life. Margaret is defined by her warmth, her loyalty, and her own quiet struggle to balance love and independence. While Emma's story centers on motherhood and survival, Margaret's arc explores the cost of romance in a world where marriage forces women to give up their careers. Her journey from reluctant fiancée to confident bride mirrors the novel's broader questions about women's choices during the war.

Margaret is not a peripheral figure; she is a mirror and a foil to Emma. Where Emma is guarded and pragmatic, Margaret is open and emotionally expressive. Where Emma has learned to rely on herself, Margaret initially fears losing the identity her job gives her. Their friendship becomes one of the novel's most sustaining relationships, offering both women a safe space to voice fears and hopes.

Plot Role

Margaret serves several key functions in the narrative. First, she is Emma's guide into the world of the lending library, helping her navigate the rules, the subscribers, and the social dynamics among the staff. She is also the one who lends Emma Lady Chatterley's Lover and encourages her to read again after years of avoiding books—a pivotal moment in Emma's emotional recovery.

More significantly, Margaret carries a subplot about wartime engagement and the pressure to marry before a soldier ships out. Her fiancé Jeffrey signs up for training early in the war, and Margaret is torn between her love for him and her desire to keep her job. Because married women are not allowed to work at Boots, marriage would force her to quit. This conflict gives voice to the novel's theme of women's independence and societal constraints. Margaret's eventual decision to marry Jeffrey—after the Coventry bombing makes her realize how fragile life is—shows her growth from fear to acceptance.

Margaret also acts as a sounding board for Emma. She encourages Emma to consider Mr. Fisk, defends her against Miss Crane's criticisms, and shares her own worries about Jeffrey during the Dunkirk evacuation. Her presence humanizes the library setting and provides Emma with a confidante who understands the pressures of wartime womanhood.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Margaret's primary motivation is the desire to be loved and to love without losing herself. She is deeply attached to her job, not just for income but for purpose. When she tells Emma, “If I marry him, I'll have to quit and I won't have a thing to occupy my time,” she reveals that her work gives her identity and meaning. She fears the emptiness of a domestic life with nothing to do.

Her loyalty is evident when she takes the blame for a misshelved book that Miss Crane accuses Emma of moving. In chapter 11, Margaret steps forward and says, “Oh goodness. That was my fault. I put that away this morning and could have sworn I tucked it in the classics section.” This act protects Emma from Miss Crane's suspicion and shows Margaret's willingness to sacrifice her own standing for a friend.

Margaret is also compassionate and perceptive. At the Victoria Station canteen, she smiles tirelessly at soldiers and gently deflects their compliments, but Emma knows she is secretly worried about Jeffrey. Margaret's kindness extends to Emma, whom she reassures and encourages. She is also self-aware about her own insecurities: she admits she has never had many friends because women don't generally like her and men often have ulterior motives. This vulnerability makes her relatable and explains why she values Emma's friendship so deeply.

Chronological Arc

Margaret's arc unfolds gradually across the novel. She first appears in chapter 3, showing Emma around the library. In chapter 11, she reveals that Jeffrey has signed up for training and wants to marry before he leaves. She is distressed because marriage would mean quitting her job. Emma comforts her, and Margaret later takes the blame for the misshelved book.

In chapter 12, at the employee picnic, Margaret is visibly upset because Jeffrey was called up earlier than expected. She and Emma sign up for the Women's Volunteer Service together, and Margaret leaves early, saying she needs her mother's kidney pie to rally. This moment establishes her close relationship with her mother and her reliance on family comfort.

Over the following months, Margaret continues to work at the library while Jeffrey is away. She worries about him during the Dunkirk evacuation, but learns he is safe. In chapter 41, after a trip to Coventry where they witness the devastation of bombing, Margaret decides to write to Jeffrey and tell him she will marry him. She explains, “Coventry. Seeing what people lost, hearing the stories, and realizing that we're all in danger, but more so my Jeffrey than me.” This decision marks a turning point: she moves from fear of losing her independence to embracing love as a choice.

The novel concludes with Margaret's wedding preparations. In chapter 44, Emma helps her try on her mother's wedding dress, and Margaret is radiant and happy. She has accepted that she will leave the library, but she has also found a new kind of fulfillment. Her arc from reluctant fiancée to joyful bride is complete.

Relationships

With Emma: Margaret is Emma's closest friend. She is the first to welcome Emma, lends her books, defends her, and encourages her to consider romance. Their friendship is built on mutual understanding—both have lost loved ones and both struggle with societal expectations. Margaret tells Emma, “I've never had many friends,” and Emma replies that she hasn't either, which cements their bond.

With Jeffrey: Jeffrey is Margaret's fiancé, a soldier who is called up early. He is largely absent from the narrative, but his presence looms over Margaret's decisions. She loves him but fears the loss of her job. His safe return from Dunkirk and her realization of life's fragility lead her to accept his proposal.

With her mother: Margaret's mother, Mrs. Avory, is a warm and supportive presence. She makes kidney pie to comfort Margaret, and later helps with the wedding dress. Margaret's relationship with her mother contrasts with Emma's lack of a mother, highlighting the importance of family support.

With other library staff: Margaret has a strained relationship with Miss Crane, who is often critical and jealous. Margaret's easy charm and beauty seem to irritate Miss Crane, but Margaret remains gracious. She also gets along with Irene and other staff, though she is closest to Emma.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Margaret's most significant decision is to marry Jeffrey. This choice means leaving her job at the library, which she has valued deeply. The consequence is a loss of professional identity, but also a gain in personal happiness. She makes this decision after witnessing the destruction in Coventry, which shifts her perspective on what matters most.

Another key decision is her choice to take the blame for the misshelved book. This act of loyalty protects Emma from Miss Crane's accusations, but it also puts Margaret in Miss Crane's crosshairs. However, it strengthens her friendship with Emma and demonstrates her integrity.

Margaret also decides to join the WVS with Emma, which gives her a sense of purpose beyond the library. This decision allows her to contribute to the war effort and to channel her anxiety about Jeffrey into productive action.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Margaret's story connects to several central themes of the novel. Her conflict over marriage and work directly illustrates the theme of women's independence and societal constraints. She is a woman who loves her job and finds meaning in it, but society forces her to choose between marriage and career. Her eventual decision to marry is not a surrender but a conscious choice, reflecting the novel's message that women can define their own paths.

Margaret also embodies the theme of community and found family. Her friendship with Emma is a lifeline for both women. They support each other through evacuations, air raids, and personal crises. Margaret's relationship with her mother and her eventual marriage to Jeffrey also show the importance of family bonds.

The theme of books as comfort and connection is present in Margaret's role as a librarian who recommends books and lends them to Emma. She is part of the community that helps Emma rediscover reading, which becomes a source of solace.

Finally, Margaret's arc touches on grief, healing, and the legacy of love. She helps Emma heal from her past, and her own journey from fear to joy shows that love can be a healing force.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Margaret initially resist marrying Jeffrey?

Margaret resists because marriage would force her to quit her job at the library. She tells Emma, “If I marry him, I'll have to quit and I won't have a thing to occupy my time.” She fears losing her purpose and independence.

1. What event changes Margaret's mind about marrying Jeffrey?

Margaret changes her mind after the Coventry bombing. She tells Emma, “Coventry. Seeing what people lost, hearing the stories, and realizing that we're all in danger, but more so my Jeffrey than me.” This experience makes her realize that life is fragile and that love is worth the sacrifice.

1. How does Margaret protect Emma from Miss Crane's accusations?

When Miss Crane finds a misshelved book and blames Emma, Margaret steps forward and claims it was her fault. She says, “Oh goodness. That was my fault. I put that away this morning and could have sworn I tucked it in the classics section.” This lie shields Emma from Miss Crane's suspicion.

1. What does Margaret reveal about her own insecurities?

Margaret admits to Emma that she has never had many friends because “women don't generally like me much and I've learned men often have ulterior motives.” She is aware that her beauty and charm can create barriers, and she values Emma's friendship precisely because it is genuine.

1. How does Margaret's relationship with her mother differ from Emma's experience?

Margaret has a close, affectionate relationship with her mother, who makes her kidney pie to comfort her and later helps with her wedding dress. Emma, by contrast, lost her mother shortly after birth and never had that maternal comfort. Margaret's relationship highlights the support that Emma lacks, but also shows the different ways women navigate family bonds.

For more on Margaret's role in the story, see the book overview, the ending explained, or the questions and answers.