Mother nurtures her children, particularly Thomas, but is dominated by a religious, abusive husband. Although she is initially too weak to stand up to her husband, Mother eventually does fight back to protect Thomas from another beating, and gets beaten herself. With the help of Aunt Pie, who is also beaten by her husband, and Mrs. van Amersfoort, Mother summons the strength to hold a read aloud club meeting in her home. The women who attend the meeting provide Mother with the strength to overcome her own fears and in a sense, share the family secret.
