Happy Mother’s Day!
As we celebrate and give the love and affection our own mothers rightfully deserve, let us take the time to celebrate the great moms of literature ( what would we do without their comforting thoughts and words):
1. Mrs. Bennet (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen) – Yes, she is crazy but what great mother isn’t? You can’t help but not love this desperate, social-climbing woman, especially with her “poor nerves”. Despite that, she is a caring mother who would do just about anything to see her daughters happy. And it appears to have worked, she has three married daughters. She is very blessed indeed.
2. Mrs. Gardiner (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen) – She may just be Elizabeth’s aunt but she provides more motherly advice than Mrs. Bennet ever could. Her intelligent and generous personality would always be a comfort to any surrogate daughter.
3. Molly Weasly (Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling) – The perfect embodiment of the saying “mama bear protecting her cubs”. She is not only a great witch, especially when she is protecting her loved ones, her attentiveness and loving nature doesn’t stop at her own kids but extend to Harry and Hermoine.
4. Jennifer Honey (Matilda, Roald Dahl) – Before becoming her adoptive mother, as her teacher, Miss Honey showed Matilda more love and attention that she ever received in her young life. What better qualities can you find in a mother?
5. Margaret “Marmee” March (Little Women, Louisa May Alcott)
From Buzzfeed:
Marmee (or Margaret March) is the core of her family, managing the household by herself while her husband is away, helping war efforts, and teaching her daughters — by example — how to grow into smart, strong, and kind women.”
6. Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White) -Charlotte may have been a spider and Wilbur may have been a pig, but in this unconventional companionship, Charlotte did everything in her power to protect Wilbur from any harm. A great characteristic to have in a mother.
7. Lily Potter (Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling) – She died trying to protect her son. I don’t think I have to say anything else to justify that.
8. Hester Prynne (The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne) – Exiled from her own community, Hester manages to take care of both herself and her rambunctious child , Pearl. She is not perfect and she did make mistakes but Hester manages to rise above it all to become a great mom.
9. Mrs. Darling (Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie)
From Miss Literati:
She is the mother of Wendy, John, and Michael and is extremely loving and beautiful. She always tries to keep peace in the household and wants the best for her children. Although she does not fully believe in Peter Pan she does believe in the spirit of him and will do so to keep her children’s happiness!”
10. Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery) – Shows Anne tender, love and care when she takes her in and welcomes her into her family. But that doesn’t she is all ease. She can be strict and straightforward when she needs to be.
What literary mother would be on your list?
Discover more from cup of tea with that book, please
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Oh, this list is absolute perfection! I love it! <3
This is so great! You listed so many of my favourite moms. I will always have a soft spot for Mrs. Bennett!
Great list! Glad you gave Mrs. Bennet some credit. She often gets scorn because she’s silly; but she’s trying to deal with a very real problem about the family’s future that her husband doesn’t seem interested in addressing!