Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

May "Nan" Samson

Lily may be more like her Pop than Nan, but Nan is definitely a mentor figure in the sense that they share a common goal: They want to get Lonnie and Pop to make up so they can have a perfect family day.

Beyond this, though, Nan also tries to gently reframe Lily's misconceptions about their family, particularly regarding her and Pop. She tells Lily that "Your grandpa's not a maniac" (11.28), and even inquires to Lily about how she views her: "You think I'm a silly old softie, don't you?" (11.45) she says. In other words, Nan recognizes Lily's tendency to judge others and have tunnel vision about her own desires. And Nan loves her anyway, while openly acknowledging these qualities in her granddaughter.

It's possible that Nan notes the similarities between Lily and her husband and is attempting to guide Lily into a more compassionate approach to confronting differences between herself and others. But whether this is her motive or not, what matters most is that Nan shows Lily a combination of love and criticism, which is just what the girl needs as she changes.