Mr. and Mrs. Garstone

Mr. and Mrs. Garstone are white colonial settlers in Kenya whose murder by rebellious "unknown gangsters" sets off the events of the story. The news of their killing "was all on the front pages of the daily papers and figured importantly in the Radio Newsreel." Their deaths are politically significant: "Perhaps this was so because they were the first European settlers to be killed in the increased wave of violence that had spread all over the country. The violence was said to have political motives." The widespread coverage and "talk" of their murder, and the betrayal by their own "houseboy," create an atmosphere of fear. This fear causes Mrs. Hill to become suspicious of her own "houseboy," Njoroge, which ultimately leads her to shoot and kill him in what she believes is self-defense.

Mrs. Hardy

Mrs. Hardy is one of the white settlers who, along with Mrs. Smiles, visits Mrs. Hill to discuss the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Garstone. She is described as "of Boer descent and had early migrated into the country from South Africa. Having no opinions of her own about anything, she mostly found herself agreeing with any views that most approximated those of her husband and her race." Mrs. Hardy embodies the closed-minded, ignorant white settler who fails to question the racism inherent in the European presence in Africa. Her tendency to adopt the opinions of those around her, and of her "race" in general, exemplifies how a racist social and economic system is maintained.

Mrs. Hill

Mrs. Hill is a white European settler living alone since her husband has passed away and her children are attending school in England. She is considered one of the first and most notable plantation owners in the area: ‘‘Being one of the earliest settlers and owning a lot of land with big tea plantations sprawling right across the country, she was much respected by the others if not liked by all.’’ Mrs. Hill sees herself as a liberal who prides herself on what she believes is her fair and generous treatment of the African workers on her plantation. However, her ‘‘smug liberalism, her paternalism,’’ is resented by Njoroge, her "houseboy." The boundaries of her perceived kindness are tested when she mistakenly believes Njoroge has come to kill her. Acting in what she thinks is self-defense, she shoots him. The reader is aware that Njoroge's actual intention was to save her from others planning to kill her, but Mrs. Hill remains unaware of his true motives: ‘‘She did not know that she had in fact killed her savior.'' Despite the tragic misunderstanding, the other white settlers view her action as an act of courage and heroism: "On the following day, it was all in the papers. That a single woman could fight a gang fifty strong was bravery unknown. And to think she had killed one too!’’ Mrs. Hill, however, seems troubled by her conscience regarding the incident. While her friends praise her "bravery," "Mrs. Hill kept quiet. The circumstances of Njoroge's death worried her. The more she thought about it, the more of a puzzle it was to her.’’

Njoroge

Njoroge is the character who ultimately becomes the "martyr" referenced in the story's title. He has served as Mrs. Hill's "houseboy" for over a decade. Njoroge is described as ‘‘a tall, broad-shouldered man nearing middle age...He wore green trousers, with a red cloth-band round the waist and a red fez on his head.’’ He first appears when Mrs. Hill calls him to bring tea. At the end of the day, Njoroge returns to his...