Mothers in the village

-          Knowledgeable

-          Some trust Mr Watts with teaching their children – they like him even more when they see a relation to God

-          Not all of the mums hate Great Expectations like Dolores does

-          Very religious – it’s all they know – it’s their way of hope and escape

-          “Mr Watts kindly gestured for her to carry on” – the mums are respected and Mr Watts knows that the children could benefit from her knowledge

-          Dolores hides Great Expectations – that could have saved Mr Watts’ life but instead it got burned

-          They pass their knowledge onto the children at the school

-          They trust their instincts and the old stories that they grew up on more than anything else – they have been betrayed and hurt by outsiders already

-          Protectors of the island

-          Their purpose is to help educate the children with possibly life saving lessons – this helps because the blockade is holding medicine/supplies

-          Symbolise goodness on the island despite the terror – they pull together

-          “Why am I telling you this, children? Because its stamen makes a fierce flame and keeps away the mosquitoes” (Mrs Kabui, P27)

-          Mabel’s mum is shown as a shy person

-          Mrs Masoi educates the children on how to cook – “To kill an octopus bite it above the eyes”

-          “[Mrs Masoi] was a large woman. She came through a doorway side-on.“

-          Mothers are friendly and provide homes for the children

-          Try to stay positive through the war

-          “She spoke softly and chose her words with great care”

-          “[Dolores] wore it tight around the back of her head which was the same way the rebels wore their bandanas. Her hair was in a tight bun. It gave her an air of defiance”

-          They use the islands resources without destroying it – as opposed to the miners who destroyed the island

-          Dolores uses common disliking to gain power and enforce leadership – no one appoints her as a leader

-          Like the voice of reason on the island

-          “Mabel’s mum gave a shy smile. She stood barefoot in a white blouse and a red skirt”

-          “as soon as she smiled you forgot the tear in the shoulder of her blouse and the marks left by the grubby fingers of a child”

-          They keep the children safe and are shown as the best part of the island