Character Traits and Conflict

8) Mama is portrayed in the story to being a simple countrywoman living on a farm, and her character traits reinforce this identity. Mama seems to enjoy the environment in which she lives, and does not possess negative feelings towards the country in which she lives. Mama is also viewed to be tough, realistic, a "big-boned woman with rough, man working hands," (117) and is extremely hardworking, traits that may have evolved out of living on a farm, where a survival is only guarenteed through labor. As a result, she can kill livestock mercilessly and works hard from day to night, once "knocking a bull calf srraight in the brain between its eyes with a sledgehammer, and had the meat hung up to chill before nightfall," (118) which needless to say is quite an onerous task. Mama is also shown to be very perceptive, able to see though Maggie's personality and Dee's thoughts and feelings, a motherly instinct. She is also seen to be concerned about their lack of family unity. In addition, Mama does not give too much concern about her outwards appearance; however, she does wish that she has a more pleasant figure, an appearance that would please Dee.
Mama is also shown to be traditional. She does not approve of the contemporary ideals that Dee lusts after, and is disgusted by modern culture, portrayed when Dee attempts to teach her knowledge, "forcing words, lies, other folks' habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her [Dee]." (118) She is also very practical and realistic, as portrayed with her feelings towards the quilt. To her the quilt symbolizes a personal sediment, as it was her mother who made it, and wishes to put it to a practical appliance.
However, Mama is also shown to be reasonably open towards others. This is shown when Dee comes to visit. Despite the fact that Mama probably possesses some disapproval of Dee's appearance and personality, she does not openly voice her discontent, but quietly goes along with it.These are some of Mama's character traits as revealed in the story.

9) Mama experiences a few conflicts in this story, some small and others larger. One of the conflicts is Dee's behavioral change and her negative relationship with the rest of her family, including Mama. This is not necessarily resolved in the story, but the story is implied to end as Mama recognizes the differences between her and her daughter and might think the issue over. A second overarching conflict is Maggie's timidity. Because of a disastrous fire on their home, Maggie was covered with burn scars that damaged her self-esteem, and as a result is quiet and shy. This conflict is somewhat resolved by the end of the story; Maggie displays a certain wisdom regarding the quilts that gives Mama a revelation about her personality, and Maggie also gives a genuine smile as Dee is about to leave (though the cause of it is uncertain), leaving room for speculation that she might be on the road of breaking free of her timidity.
Another important conflict in the story, which is a branch-off from the first conflict mentioned, is the conflict that sparks between Dee's and Mama's perception of heritage, that is not exactly resolved, but left at a peace as Dee leaves.