CHARACTER
Wishby Barbara O'Connor

Mama (Carla)

Mama (Carla) Character Analysis

Quick Facts

  • Role: Charlie Reese's neglectful mother
  • First Appearance: Mentioned in Chapter 1, but physically absent
  • Key Relationships: Mother to Charlie and Jackie, sister to Bertha, wife of Scrappy

Who Is She?

Carla, known as Mama to her daughters, is the troubled and unreliable mother whose struggles with depression and self-absorption set the stage for Charlie's journey. Though largely an off-page presence, her character looms large, representing the broken home life Charlie desperately wishes to mend. Mama's failings force Charlie to confront the painful reality that family is not always defined by blood, but by love and stability.

Personality & Traits

Mama's personality is revealed through Charlie's memories and Bertha's stories, painting a picture of a complex and deeply troubled woman whose own emotional needs consistently overshadow her ability to care for her children.

  • Depressed and Neglectful: Her defining characteristic is her debilitating depression, which renders her incapable of caring for Charlie. Charlie vividly describes her as perpetually "in bed with the curtains drawn and empty soda cans on the nightstand" (Chapter 1), highlighting the extent of her emotional paralysis and neglect.
  • Self-Absorbed: Mama's actions are consistently driven by her own emotional needs, with little regard for the well-being of her daughters. During a phone call with Charlie, the conversation is entirely focused on her own loneliness and frustrations (Chapter 29). Bertha confirms this trait, stating, "Nothing ever changes with her... Carla, Carla, Carla. It’s always about Carla" (Chapter 29).
  • Impulsive and Volatile: As a child, Carla was a "walking wonder" who was unpredictable and had a fiery temper, once biting a mean boy and snipping all the buttons off Bertha's blouses (Chapter 8, 25). This impulsivity continues into adulthood, seen in her decision to abandon her family to start a "new life" and her final, abrupt plan to go to Chattanooga.
  • Estranged: She has a deeply fractured relationship with her family. Her marriage to Scrappy is filled with constant fighting, and she has been estranged from her sister, Bertha, for years, even returning cards and gifts Bertha sent to the children (Chapter 12).

Character Journey

Mama's character arc is marked by a lack of positive development. She begins as a neglectful parent, and despite a brief, superficial "improvement" reported by social services, she ultimately regresses. Her decision to go to Chattanooga at the end of the novel is a final act of abandonment, proving she is not yet capable of being the mother Charlie needs. Her static character serves as a constant reminder of the trauma Charlie is working to overcome, reinforcing the idea that Charlie must find her family elsewhere.

Key Relationships

  • Charlie Reese: Mama's relationship with Charlie is defined by neglect and disappointment. Charlie’s central wish is for her mother to "get her feet on the ground" so their family can be reunited. However, Mama's actions consistently demonstrate her inability to prioritize her daughter's needs, leaving Charlie feeling abandoned and longing for a stable maternal figure.

  • Bertha: The sisters were close as children, but their adult relationship is fractured by Mama's self-absorption and inability to take responsibility. Bertha reveals that Mama once left her family and stayed with her, only to storm out when Bertha criticized her for abandoning her children (Chapter 12). Bertha's love for her sister is mixed with deep frustration and disappointment, as she witnesses Mama's repeated failures to change.

  • Scrappy: Their marriage is toxic and dysfunctional, characterized by constant arguments and instability. Charlie recalls them hollering at each other "the livelong day" (Chapter 6). Their volatile relationship is a major source of the instability in the home and contributes to the neglect Charlie experiences.

  • Jackie: Her older daughter. Jackie has a more jaded and realistic perspective on their mother. She understands that Mama is unlikely to change and tells Charlie, "Scrappy is gonna keep being Scrappy and Mama is gonna keep being Mama and you and I are on our own" (Chapter 23).

Defining Moments

  • Charlie's Initial Memory (Chapter 1): The story opens with Charlie's stark memory of her mother's depression, establishing the neglect that sets the entire plot in motion. This moment immediately defines Mama as an absent and unreliable figure in Charlie's life.

  • The "New Life" Revelation (Chapter 12): Bertha tells Charlie the story of how Mama once abandoned her family to start a "new life," a pivotal moment that reveals a long-standing pattern of selfish and impulsive behavior. This revelation shatters any illusions Charlie might have about her mother's capacity for change.

  • The Phone Call (Chapter 29): Mama calls Charlie, but the conversation is entirely self-centered. She complains about her own problems and abruptly hangs up when Charlie mentions Scrappy's new tattoo, showing she is not ready to be a supportive parent.

  • The Chattanooga Decision (Chapter 30): After social services declares the home situation "improved," Mama announces she is going to Chattanooga with a new boyfriend. This final act of abandonment solidifies her unreliability and frees Charlie to accept her new life in Colby.

Essential Quotes

And I don’t need a crystal ball to know that at this very minute, in our house in Raleigh, smack-dab in the middle of the day, Mama is in bed with the curtains drawn and empty soda cans on the nightstand. She will stay in that bed the livelong day. (Chapter 1)

This quote, from the opening chapter, immediately establishes Mama's defining characteristic: her debilitating depression. The image of her perpetually in bed, surrounded by the detritus of her isolation, paints a stark picture of her inability to function as a parent.

When I asked her what in the world she was doing running off like that, she looked me right in the eye and said, ‘I’m tired of my old life. I’m startin’ a new one.’ (Chapter 12)

This quote, recounted by Bertha, reveals Mama's impulsive and self-centered nature. Her willingness to abandon her family in pursuit of a "new life" highlights her inability to prioritize the needs of her children over her own desires.

“Nothing’s gonna change, Charlie,” she said. “I used to think it would but now I don’t. Scrappy is gonna keep being Scrappy and Mama is gonna keep being Mama and you and I are on our own. No magic wand is gonna fix things.” (Chapter 23)

Jackie's words reflect a hard-earned understanding of their mother's unchanging nature. This quote underscores the futility of Charlie's wish for her mother to "get her feet on the ground," as Jackie recognizes that Mama is unlikely to change.

Bertha shook her head. “Nothing ever changes with her,” she said. “Carla, Carla, Carla. It’s always about Carla.” (Chapter 29)

Bertha's exasperated comment encapsulates the essence of Mama's self-absorption. This quote reinforces the idea that Mama's actions are consistently driven by her own needs and desires, with little regard for the well-being of those around her.