Character Analysis
Neil says Mrs. Patimkin is more beautiful than the other characters. We learn from Brenda that she was a star tennis player in her youth. She is a strictly Observant Jew and is devoted to doing good works. She and Brenda are always fighting. Brenda thinks this is because her mother is jealous. Mrs. Patimkin says it's because Brenda has fallen away from Judaism and takes money for granted. We think it's because the mother and daughter are more similar than they realize.