True Grit

by

Charles Portis

Mattie’s Mother Character Analysis

Mattie’s mother, who is a relatively absent character. In the wake of Frank Ross’s death, Mattie’s mother stays at home in Little Rock with her two youngest children, sending Mattie and Yarnell to take care of family business in Fort Smith. Throughout her journey, Mattie knows that her mother must be worried about her, but this does nothing to stop her from pursuing Chaney. When Mattie has to get her arm amputated at the end of her adventure, her mother sits by her side despite the fact that she’s not usually able to stomach such gruesome sights.

Mattie’s Mother Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Mattie’s Mother or refer to Mattie’s Mother . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mattie’s Mother Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Mattie’s Mother or refer to Mattie’s Mother . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis: