The mother

The mother is one of the main characters of the short story “The Dress” by Julia Darling. The story reveals that she is 40 years old and that she has two daughters, Rachel and Flora. Although the narrative does not openly say so, the fact that she does not live with her husband suggests that they are divorced. The mother works as a bereavement counselor, which means that she is helping people who have suffered a loss overcome the death of their loved one.

One of the things that characterize the mother is her frustration with her age: “ ‘I'm forty,’ said the mother. She felt sorry for herself”. She sees herself as “so old” and does not respond when her daughters insist that it is not the case.

Based on her reactions, the mother is most likely unhappy with her job: “All day she had sat with tearful needy people. It was her birthday, and she wanted to relax. She wanted to feel loved”. She also tells Rachel and Flora that she wants to leave her job because “it’s just so sad”. Her depressing job forces her to reconsider her career and think about another job, like one where she would make jewelry. This might suggest the mother’s need for a more creative job, where she would feel more fulfilled. 

When she expresses her desire to make jewelry, her daught...