Johnnie’s Mother Character Analysis in Starship Troopers

Johnnie’s Mother is a doting woman who is upset when Johnnie volunteers and worries about him when he’s at Camp Currie. She writes him a letter reminding him of her maternal love and letting him know that he has a place to return to if he’d like to leave Federal Service; she thus represents the pull of “soft” civilian life against the harsh realities of military service. But she also symbolizes the importance of civic duty: she’s on vacation in Buenos Aires when the Bugs attack, and although Johnnie doesn’t learn about his loss for some time, when he does, his Mother’s death becomes yet another facet of why he—and his Father—serve.

Johnnie’s Mother Character Timeline in Starship Troopers

The timeline below shows where the character Johnnie’s Mother appears in Starship Troopers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Communism vs. Moral Individualism Theme Icon

...to serve is just another predictable stage of childhood. As a toddler, Johnnie broke his Mother’s Ming vase because he didn’t understand its value. When he was older, he secretly smoked... (full context)

Johnnie decides to resign, and his Mother’s letter confirms his choice. She writes about how Johnnie hurt his Father’s pride by volunteering.... (full context)

...life. He had already received a letter from his Aunt Eleanora informing him that his Mother had died in the attack on Buenos Aires. Johnnie assumes that his Father must also... (full context)

Johnnie asks when his Father joined up and learns that it was shortly after his Mother’s death in Buenos Aires. But his father says that it had less to do with... (full context)