In "The Book of Martha,” Martha is faced with a moral dilemma about how to improve humanity. She can make any change she desires. Martha tells God, "I was born poor, black, and female to a fourteen-year-old mother who could barely read. We were homeless half the time while I was growing up.” Martha grew up to become a successful writer. As a result of this, Martha understands that people need to have a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in order to live a good life. Thus, her response to the dilemma is to provide people with a sense of personal satisfaction in their dreams in the hopes that this promote peace and well-being. One theme of the story is that imagination has an impact on reality. Martha believes that people’s dreams transform them. As the story progresses, and Martha gains confidence in her choice, Martha’s image of God changes, and he begins to look and sound more like her.
