Natalie and Martin's relationship in Face by Benjamin Zephaniah
The Development of Martin and Natalie’s Relationship
In Act 1 Scene 2, Martin and Natalie seem like a pretty normal teenage couple. They are comfortable around each other and when Martin asks for a kiss, Natalie is willing to do so, kissing him on the cheek. Natalie seems to be the more mature one in the relationship as shown in Act 1 Scene 4 when Martin wants to mess with the police officer at the fair. Natalie tries to stop him from doing so saying “Don’t, Martin,” but doesn’t really push it almost willing to let him get in trouble as long as she doesn’t get in trouble as well. This could be interpreted as her not really caring for Martin but only dating him to be able to say that she has a boyfriend. Even here though she kisses him as she leaves, maybe showing that she has some connection with him. Natalie is the lead in the relationship as well, as shown in Act 1 Scene 6 where she is seen dragging the Mark, Matthew and Martin into the Bassment club because she doesn’t have to pay before ten. In Act 1 Scene 11, we see a change in the relationship, when Martin asks for a kiss once he has been in the car crash and Natalie simply leaves after an awkward pause along with Mark and Matthew, and after this in the play (before in the timeline of events) Martin again asks for a kiss, and Natalie tells him to give it a rest, but gives in in the end – in the timeline of the play, this is before the accident occurs, so we can see that something has changed in the relationship before the crash anyway.
After the accident, it is absolutely clear that Natalie feels differently about Martin; especially when she seems surprised that Martin was going back to school so soon and when she calls him and the relationship is essentially ended. Although this is not said explicitly, it can be inferred that Natalie no longer wishes to be dating Martin; “Things are changing, people move on. You must have noticed. I didn’t think I had to spell it out. Things have just – cooled, haven’t
In Act 1 Scene 2, Martin and Natalie seem like a pretty normal teenage couple. They are comfortable around each other and when Martin asks for a kiss, Natalie is willing to do so, kissing him on the cheek. Natalie seems to be the more mature one in the relationship as shown in Act 1 Scene 4 when Martin wants to mess with the police officer at the fair. Natalie tries to stop him from doing so saying “Don’t, Martin,” but doesn’t really push it almost willing to let him get in trouble as long as she doesn’t get in trouble as well. This could be interpreted as her not really caring for Martin but only dating him to be able to say that she has a boyfriend. Even here though she kisses him as she leaves, maybe showing that she has some connection with him. Natalie is the lead in the relationship as well, as shown in Act 1 Scene 6 where she is seen dragging the Mark, Matthew and Martin into the Bassment club because she doesn’t have to pay before ten. In Act 1 Scene 11, we see a change in the relationship, when Martin asks for a kiss once he has been in the car crash and Natalie simply leaves after an awkward pause along with Mark and Matthew, and after this in the play (before in the timeline of events) Martin again asks for a kiss, and Natalie tells him to give it a rest, but gives in in the end – in the timeline of the play, this is before the accident occurs, so we can see that something has changed in the relationship before the crash anyway.
After the accident, it is absolutely clear that Natalie feels differently about Martin; especially when she seems surprised that Martin was going back to school so soon and when she calls him and the relationship is essentially ended. Although this is not said explicitly, it can be inferred that Natalie no longer wishes to be dating Martin; “Things are changing, people move on. You must have noticed. I didn’t think I had to spell it out. Things have just – cooled, haven’t