Who is Arlene Erhardt (Mama) from The Cape Ann and what is their importance?

Arlene Erhardt (Mama) is a fiercely independent woman who realizes she may not like to be married after all. Mama is at once headstrong, yet has a kind heart. She seems to know who she is on the outside but in the end, she gets rather confused about whether she makes the right decision in heading to California with her young daughter and sister. Arlene is a product of how her parents raised her, yet she is also a product of American society in general.