1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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Mother Figure: Marmee (Mrs. March)
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Why She’s Strong: Calm, wise, and emotionally intelligent, Marmee guides her daughters through poverty, war, and personal trials, teaching them compassion and independence.
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Quote: “I am angry nearly every day of my life, but I have learned not to show it.”
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Mother Figure: Mrs. Bennet
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Why She’s Strong (in her own way): Often dismissed as comic relief, Mrs. Bennet is driven by the fierce desire to secure her daughters' futures in a patriarchal society.
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Theme: Protective, if flawed, maternal instincts shaped by societal pressures.
- Why Ellen is a powerful mother figure:
Moral Compass and Emotional Anchor:
Ellen is depicted as deeply religious, composed, and morally upright. She’s admired by everyone on the plantation and seen as nearly saintly.She exerts a quiet but firm control over her household and is deeply respected by both Black and white members of the Tara plantation.She has given up the young man she loved in her youth to marry Mr O Hara.
Influence on Scarlett:
Scarlett idolizes her mother and constantly compares herself to Ellen, even though she struggles to live up to her mother’s grace and calm. After Ellen’s death, Scarlett tries (and often fails) to emulate her strength and composure during crises.
Self-Sacrifice and Leadership:
Ellen works tirelessly to help those in need, acting as nurse, counselor, and leader in the community during the early stages of the Civil War. Despite her failing health, she remains devoted to duty—a trait Scarlett inherits in her own, more rebellious way.
When Ellen dies of typhoid fever, the O’Hara family and plantation begin to unravel. Her absence marks a major turning point in the novel, showing how much her strength had been holding everything together.
Shakespeare’s works are not particularly known for strong or central mother figures — many of his plays lack active maternal roles or depict them as absent, deceased, or minor characters. However, there are a few notable exceptions where mothers, though not always prominent, exhibit power, influence, or emotional depth.
Charles Dickens is best known for his vivid depictions of Victorian life, often focusing on poverty, social injustice, and family struggles. While strong father figures and children in distress are central themes in many of his novels, powerful and inspiring mother figures are rarer — but not absent.
Here’s a look at a notable and inspiring mother figure in Dickens’s works:
4. Mrs. Peggotty (Clara Peggotty) in David Copperfield
Clara is the housekeeper of the Copperfield family and later David’s surrogate mother. She is not David's biological mother, but raises him with love, warmth, and loyalty, unlike many of the other adults in his life.
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After the death of David’s biological mother and the abuse he suffers from his stepfather (Mr. Murdstone), Peggotty is one of the few constants in his life.
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Her love is unwavering and maternal, and she treats David like her own child.
Despite being dismissed from the Copperfield home, Peggotty remains deeply connected to David, supporting him emotionally and practically through many life stages.
She is fiercely loyal to the Peggotty family (especially to her brother Daniel Peggotty) and takes part in the search for Little Em’ly, showing moral courage and deep family devotion.
Peggotty exemplifies compassion and resilience, remaining optimistic and loving even in hardship — in contrast to many other cold or selfish characters in Dickens's world.
Quote:
"Oh, my dear! oh, my dear! my precious boy! my pretty pet!"
Peggotty’s way of speaking to David reflects the tender affection she never ceases to show him, even when they are separated.
5. In Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Scarlett O’Hara’s nurse is a powerful and memorable maternal figure named: Mammy
Mammy is the house servant and nurse of the O’Hara family, specifically assigned to care for Scarlett from childhood.
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She is an enslaved woman at the beginning of the story, and later continues in the role of a devoted servant and mother-figure even after emancipation.
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She is not just a nurse — she is a central figure in Scarlett’s life, acting as her moral guide, emotional anchor, and disciplinarian.
Mammy is one of the few characters who confronts Scarlett, holds her accountable, and speaks the truth to her face—a rare dynamic in Scarlett’s life.
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She is respected by other characters, including Rhett Butler, who treats her as an equal in terms of wisdom.
Despite being enslaved and later technically free, Mammy stays with the O’Haras and continues to care for them, especially Scarlett, whom she criticizes but fiercely protects.
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Her emotional loyalty is complex and deeply rooted in the Southern culture of the time.
Mammy’s love for Scarlett is unquestionably maternal, though often masked by tough discipline.
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She dresses her, comforts her, scolds her, and acts more like a mother than Scarlett’s biological mother, Ellen, who is emotionally distant.
Mammy often sees through people’s motives, especially Rhett’s and Scarlett’s. Her observations are shrewd and emotionally intelligent.
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She understands the social dynamics of both the white and Black communities in the South.
Mammy dressing Scarlett for various events, particularly when Scarlett is emotionally distraught—Mammy becomes a silent pillar of strength.
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Conversations with Rhett Butler, where Mammy and Rhett share mutual respect. He even says to Scarlett, “Mammy is one person you don’t lie to.”
