In literature, as well as life, the foreground is not always the most influential. Sometimes, it is the background details that create the real picture. This holds true of Margaret Atwood's novel, Cat's Eye. The novel's main character, Elaine, is strongly influenced by her friends, but more so one of their mothers. Grace Smeath's mother played a powerful role in the development of Elaine in her childhood. Mrs. Smeath influenced Elaine in her religion and artistic expression, as well as in her interaction with other girls.

During Elaine's upbringing, she had no formal religious education. This resulted in Mrs. Smeath's disapproval of Elaine. Mrs. Smeath was very religiously motivated without being an extremist. The Smeath family said grace, attended church and Sunday school habitually, and made an attempt to convert Elaine from Catholicism to Protestantism. This is how Mrs. Smeath influenced Elaine in her beliefs. Elaine wanted very...