Character Analysis
Frannie's mama is the kind of woman who is filled with hope and believes in the beauty of the world, even though life has beaten her down more than once. Not only was one of her children born deaf, she's also had miscarriages and even lost a baby in its first month of life. It's enough to send anyone into a deep depression, which is just what happened to Mama in the past:
Mama stayed in the hospital for a long time after the not-thriving baby died. And the whole time she was in there, it felt like our family was holding its breath. Then, when the doctors said she was okay, we all started breathing again. But Mama came home quiet and sad and for a long time that's how she stayed. (7.10)
But somehow, Frannie's mom is resilient and bounces back. She shows her children all the love in the world and makes them feel like they're special and like their family can withstand anything. When she finds out that she's pregnant again, she doesn't get scared or hide away in her room; she is happy and open about it:
The baby inside Mama's belly grows and grows. This morning, I wake to find her in the rocker by the window, staring out into the sun. She looks beautiful sitting there with all the light around her. (22.1)
Mama's ability to see the best in any situation—and to move past personal tragedies—is an inspiration to both of her children. Which is good, because they both need a bit of inspiring. For more on this, read up on Frannie and Sean elsewhere in this section.