Mama

Outer characterization

Mama is an African-American, middle-aged woman who lives in the state of Georgia in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The fact that she is African American is indicated by several details in the story. For example, she asks herself who could ever imagine her looking a strange white man in the eyes (l. 37), alluding to the fact that she lived most of her life in a segregated society, where African Americans were discouraged from seeing themselves as equal to white people.

She does not have an education, as her school closed down after second grade. She does not know the reason because “in 1927 colored asked fewer questions than they do now” (l. 71). This is another allusion to the fact that African Americans had little to no influence over how society treated them in those times and were often too afraid to protest against their mistreatment.

Walker does not give Mama a first name, but we do learn that her family name is Johnson: “Who ever knew a Johnson with a quick tongue?” (l. 36).

Mama has two daughters, Maggie and Dee. All three witnessed their house burning down 10 or 12 years previously (ll. 50-51). Now Mama lives with Maggie in another house, in a rural area – the house is in a pasture (l. 85) and has “holes cut in the sides” (l. 83) instead of windows.

The story also suggests that she grew up in a rural environment and that her family was quite poor. This is revealed by references to her physical appearance, which emphasize her strength and endurance: “I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing (…) One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledgehammer” (ll. 30-31).

Other details also hint at poverty in Mama’s family – for example, the carving of benches because the family could not afford chairs (ll. 175-177) and the making of quilts from old pieces of clothing, which, as Mama underlines, were meant to be used (ll. 231-232).

Mama gives other details on her physical appearance as well: “I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. In the winter I wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. (...) My fat keeps me hot in zero weather.” (ll. 26-28).

Inner characterization

Mama’s inner characterization is constructed through her perspective, language, actions, and attitude.

Mama’s personality

The first thing we notice about Mama is that she loves her yard. In her opinion, the yard is like an extended living room, and most people do not know how comfortable it can be (ll. 2-3). This alludes to Mama’s upbringing in...