Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

by

Becky Albertalli

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Martin Addison Character Analysis

Martin is a tall, gangly classmate of Simon's whom Simon doesn't know well at the beginning of the novel. However, Martin quickly reveals himself to be a dangerous enemy: when he stumbles upon Simon's secret email address and discovers that Simon is gay, Martin blackmails Simon to help him win over Abby. Until the end of the novel, Martin refuses to call what he's doing blackmail and doesn't understand why it's such a big deal. Although Simon agrees to set him up with Abby, Martin botches every chance he has to look cool for her. Over the several months when Simon, Martin, and Abby are hanging out together, Simon is torn between feeling enraged and vulnerable at Martin's blackmail and wondering if Martin is actually becoming a friend. However, when Abby decisively rejects Martin right before Christmas break, Martin retaliates by posting online that Simon is gay and wants to have sex with any interested guys at school. When school resumes, Martin is horrified to see the homophobic bullying that Simon suffers after being forcibly outed. When Martin tries to apologize, he again mentions that he didn't think coming out would be such a big deal. Simon refuses to accept Martin's apology and makes it clear that Martin took away Simon's ability to control his own coming-out experience. Martin finally writes Simon an email explaining that his brother came out over the summer and their parents made a big deal out of it in a positive way, which made Martin feel weird. Martin was also overcome by his feelings for Abby and felt that blackmailing Simon was the only way to get what he wanted. However, Martin understands that he did an awful thing to Simon and says that if he had the opportunity to do it again, he'd just blackmail Simon into being friends with him.

Martin Addison Quotes in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda quotes below are all either spoken by Martin Addison or refer to Martin Addison. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Agency and Control Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

“I actually think people would be cool about it,” Martin says. “You should be who you are.”

I don't even know where to begin with that. Some straight kid who barely knows me, advising me on coming out.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison (speaker)
Page Number: 3
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold.”

Related Characters: Blue / Bram (speaker), Simon Spier, Martin Addison
Page Number: 147
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

“And you know what? You don't get to say it's not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be—this is mine. I'm supposed to decide when and where and who knows and how I want to say it.”

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison
Page Number: 196
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 30 Quotes

“It's just, you know. I get that you were in a difficult position. But you don't get to make the decisions about my love life. I choose who I date.” She shrugs. “I would think you would understand that.”

Related Characters: Abby Suso (speaker), Simon Spier, Martin Addison
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis:

It's weird, because of all the things I feel guilty about, it never occurred to me to feel guilty about Abby. But I'm a fucking idiot. Because who you like can't be forced or persuaded or manipulated. If anyone knows that, it's me.

I'm a shitty friend.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison, Abby Suso
Page Number: 254-55
Explanation and Analysis:
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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda PDF

Martin Addison Quotes in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda quotes below are all either spoken by Martin Addison or refer to Martin Addison. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Agency and Control Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

“I actually think people would be cool about it,” Martin says. “You should be who you are.”

I don't even know where to begin with that. Some straight kid who barely knows me, advising me on coming out.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison (speaker)
Page Number: 3
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold.”

Related Characters: Blue / Bram (speaker), Simon Spier, Martin Addison
Page Number: 147
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

“And you know what? You don't get to say it's not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be—this is mine. I'm supposed to decide when and where and who knows and how I want to say it.”

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison
Page Number: 196
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 30 Quotes

“It's just, you know. I get that you were in a difficult position. But you don't get to make the decisions about my love life. I choose who I date.” She shrugs. “I would think you would understand that.”

Related Characters: Abby Suso (speaker), Simon Spier, Martin Addison
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis:

It's weird, because of all the things I feel guilty about, it never occurred to me to feel guilty about Abby. But I'm a fucking idiot. Because who you like can't be forced or persuaded or manipulated. If anyone knows that, it's me.

I'm a shitty friend.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Martin Addison, Abby Suso
Page Number: 254-55
Explanation and Analysis: