The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

marriage in Cana
306
marriage in Cana See water into wine.
Mars (mahrz) <strong>The</strong> personifi cation of war. Though
generally identifi ed as the god of war in Roman
mythology, Mars began as a god of spring growth
who was venerated for keeping livestock safe from
threat. Later he became strongly associated with
the warlike instinct, and the area in Rome where
soldiers trained was dubbed the Field of Mars. He
was also identifi ed as the father of romulus and
remus. <strong>The</strong> king assumed the guise of Mars himself,
personally ordering his battalions forward and ranging
his magisterial eye over the entire fi eld of battle. See also
march.
Marshall Plan (mahrshbl) An economic aid
package to relieve a whole region or nation under
pressure. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to the plan proposed in
1947 by U.S. secretary of state George C. Marshall
(1880–1959) to deliver aid to assist in the
economic recovery of Eu rope after World War II.
<strong>The</strong> ensuing Eu ro pe an Recovery Program did
much to restore the industries of various western
Eu ro pe an states. We need to or ga nize a new Marshall
Plan to help the ailing nations of central Africa.
Martha (mahrthb) A woman who is constantly
occupied with domestic chores. According to Luke
10:38–42, when Christ visited the home in Bethany
of the sisters Martha and mary, Martha carried on
preparing a meal while Mary broke off to listen to
Christ’s words. When Martha complained that her
sister was leaving her to do all the work, she was
gently rebuked by Christ: “Martha, Martha, thou
art careful and troubled about many things: But one
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good
part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke
10:41–42). Martha is now honored as the patron
saint of homemakers. “Her paradise was not a
tranquil one, for the little woman fussed, was overanxious
to please, and bustled about like a true
Martha, cumbered with many cares” (Louisa May
Alcott, Little Women, 1868–69).
martinet (mahrtinet) A strict disciplinarian. <strong>The</strong>
reference is to the marquis de Martinet, a col o nel
in the French infantry during the reign of Louis
XIV. It was into Martinet’s regiment, which was
renowned for its strict discipline, that young aristocrats
were obliged, at the king’s command, to
do military ser vice. He was killed “accidentally” by
his own troops at the siege of Duisberg in 1762.
<strong>The</strong> captain was a real martinet who would tolerate no
misbehavior in his crew.
Marvel, Captain See captain marvel.
Marx Brothers (mahrks) A team of comical
incompetents. <strong>The</strong> Marx Brothers were among the
most pop u lar comedy stars of the 1930s, starring
in such movies as <strong>The</strong> Cocoanuts (1929) and A Night
at the Opera (1935). <strong>The</strong>y comprised Leonard
Marx (Chico; 1886–1961), Adolph Marx (Harpo;
1888–1964), Julius Marx (Groucho; 1890–1977),
Herbert Marx (Zeppo; 1901–79), and Milton
Marx (Gummo; 1892–1977), although Gummo
left the team relatively early in their career. Watching
that team of builders putting up a wall was like
watching the Marx Brothers.
Mary (mairee) A quiet, contemplative woman.
According to Luke 10:38–42, Mary, the sister of
martha, listened attentively to Christ’s words
while her sister carried on with her domestic
chores. Unlike her sister, who busied herself in the connecting
room, the other girl sat like Mary quietly in the
corner mulling unhappily over her father’s words. See
also virgin mary.