Marilyn Sorenson

Marilyn is at the heart of the work, as it centers around her four now-adult daughters, as well as her epic marriage to her husband, David. She is described as "a resilient product of money and tragedy" and declares that she had "fallen into motherhood without intent" (1). While her motherhood is initially a bi-product of her extraordinary love for her husband, it comes to define her as she abandons a college education to raise her daughters and support David's medical career.

Marilyn is representative of traditional motherhood. As primary caretaker, Marilyn gives up her college education upon learning of her first pregnancy. Her second pregnancy comes quickly on the heels of her first, and she devotes herself to a life of domesticity. She clearly adores her role, although she is, at times, overwhelmed by it. In particular, her first born, Wendy, tries her patience and flummoxes her...