On Mothers and Mothering: Complex Figures in Literature and Film

By Hannah White
Motherhood has been the focus of literature and film throughout history. From the well-known Victorian trope of the pious, meek, and obedient wife that Coventry Patmore coined “The Angel in the House”, to absent or distanced mothers, as I recently explored in Beth Nguyen’s essay “Apparent”, and even abusive mothers, such as in Jennette McCurdy’s shocking debut memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died”, mother figures have captivated writers and readers everywhere. The following is a list of mother figures in literature and film that have captivated me most:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret ...