Margaret

Origin

Margaret is the attendant to the Igor in the mysterious Velvet Room. Her duties are to maintain the Persona Compendium and the Fusion Forecast.

Creation

Persona 4 PS2 (Jul 2008)

Margaret is a supporting character from the Shin Megami Tensei series of games and specifically the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 video game for the Playstation 2. It's the sixth game of the franchise and was developed as a murder mystery RPG with deep social aspects. It was developed by ATLUS in Japan, directed by Katsuro Hashino, and character design by Shigenori Soejima. It was released in Japan in July 10, 2008, and in the U.S. on December 9, 2008.

The series was later adapted into a manga written and illustrated by Shuji Sogabe, and began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Black Maoh magazine on September 19, 2008. The anime adaption began in October of 2011 and is directed by Seiji Kishi.

Her manga first appearance was in Persona 4 Volume 1 CH. 4 "Awakening", and her first anime appearance was in Persona 4 (episode yet to be announced). Her character in the Japanese series is not yet announced, and the U.S. dub has not been announced.

Character Evolution

Early Margaret designs

Margaret's history, much like the Velvet Room in which she resides, is shrouded in mystery. She is the assistant to Igor, the man who provides the heroes in the Persona world with the ability to summon their Persona. She is the sister to his last assistant Elizabeth, and while she appears to be older and is far more mature, she still has the same mysterious aura about her. Her job is to keep track of the Persona that the hero encounters and give him vague tips and life lessons that could help him out later. In the game she becomes a Social Link and asks for the player to create several different Persona with certain requirements for her, and after achieving all this she begins to develop strong feelings for the player.

Much like her sister Elizabeth, Margaret has pale white skin, yellow eyes, and platinum hair. However, while her sister dressed like an elevator doorman, Margaret dresses far more professionally, which is meant to show off her more serious nature. Her dress is meant to match the theme of the color of the Velvet Room, making it seem as if she is tied to that location. Her appearance combined with her ominous way of speaking leaves it up to the audience as to whether she is even really human or if she is something far beyond that, the answer to which is never approached to make her all the more mysterious.

Major Story Arcs

Other Media

Games

Persona 3 Portable PSP-US (Jul 2010)

In the Persona 4 PS2 game, Margaret is one of the numerous characters that are part of the Social Link aspect of the game but can only be contacted inside the Velvet Room. She is voiced in the Japanese version by Sayaka Ohara, the same voice actress from the anime; and the English version is performed by Michelle Ann Dunphy. As part of her quest, the player is requested to fuse nine different Personas. Once completed, the option to create Isis of the Empress Arcana becomes available. If the player completes Empress Arcana Social Link by the end of the game. He can meet her outside of the Velvet Room in the Shopping District on the day before the character leaves town. She requests the protagonist to close his eyes, then she steals a kiss. She explains that this action within the Velvet Room would be considered sinful, and she did not wish the protagonist to see her sinful actions.

If the player was to follow the True Ending arc of the story, The player has the opportunity to challenge Margaret to a battle. Though, several requests must be fulfilled. The Empress Arcana must be at level 10 before completing the Magatsu Inaba dungeon, the player must defeat all optional bosses, and during the second cycle of the True Ending the player must revisit the Velvet Room after gaining the "Orb of Sight" before talking to the gas station attendant. She reveals that she is the older sister of Elizabeth, the Velvet Room attendant of Persona 3. After defeating her, she gives the protagonist the key item Raden Bookmark.

Margaret's earliest story-based appearance was actually in a cameo for Shin Magami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable for the PSP that was released in November 1, 2009. Set two years before the story of Persona 4, If the player completes the game to the Good Ending. A new door will appear at the left side of the Tartarus lobby. Inside the room is Margaret, and she she challenges the player to compete against stronger forms of the full moon shadows. As well as battles that test the tributes of of Strength, Magic, Agility, Endurance and Luck. If completed, Margaret will become the second optional boss in the game. She holds the same battle conditions in Persona 4, but will use different Personas.

(For a full list of games that feature Margaret, see her profile on Giant Bomb. HERE)