Who is the major character?

The major character, about whom the story revolves, is
Minnie Wright, who is suspected of murdering her husband. But in the development of the
story, the major acting and speaking character is Martha Hale. She is the limited
point-of-view character, and the narration and dialogue exist only because she is
involved in them in some way. For example, paragraph

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concerns Martha’s feelings when she enters the Wright farmhouse. The men, who are
technically the principal investigators of the murder, enter and leave, while Martha
remains as the focus of our attention. We also realize that Martha is the major source
of information about Minnie and about Wright, the dead husband. It is because of
Martha’s questions, observations, recollections, and responses that we develop sympathy
for Minnie. For example, Martha justifies Minnie’s housekeeping just as she also
develops a justification for the murder. Not only is Martha sympathetic, but also she is
the major figure concealing and destroying the evidence that points conclusively to
Minnie’s guilt. She is, therefore, the most important character in the
story.