Mother Abagail

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Todash

Free spirit. Curly girl. Cookie eater. Proud SJW.
Aug 19, 2006
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Kansas City
I cannot figure out how she ate the chicken then put in her teeth to talk to the new guests of hers.
You must not ever have known an older person with dentures who really, really didn't like them. The gums toughen after a while, and hunger is a fantastic motivator. King hit that nail right on the head. I expect he drew from very particular real-life experience.

I rather liked her. Yes, she did get a bit prideful, and yes, she did have certain attitudes about things that were in part products of her upbringing, but don't we all?
 

staropeace

Richard Bachman's love child
Nov 28, 2006
15,210
48,848
Alberta,Canada
You must not ever have known an older person with dentures who really, really didn't like them. The gums toughen after a while, and hunger is a fantastic motivator. King hit that nail right on the head. I expect he drew from very particular real-life experience.

I rather liked her. Yes, she did get a bit prideful, and yes, she did have certain attitudes about things that were in part products of her upbringing, but don't we all?
I never knew that...you are right.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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I liked Mother Abigail and enjoyed her whole backstory. I loved that she played old hymns on the guitar and the way she talked (mayhap) and how tough she was even though she was so old. I found it quite moving when the ones who dreamed about her finally met her. She is the heart of the story, the warmth, I feel.
 

Pep's person

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2016
57
324
Mts o' Santa Cruz
My only disappointment in the character of Mother Abigail is her lack of pity for Trash Can Man. She only 'sees' him as a weasel in the corn. As an element of God I think she should have had some love and pity in her heart for that poor soul. Instead she is only portrayed as disdainful of him.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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United States
My only disappointment in the character of Mother Abigail is her lack of pity for Trash Can Man. She only 'sees' him as a weasel in the corn. As an element of God I think she should have had some love and pity in her heart for that poor soul. Instead she is only portrayed as disdainful of him.
I agree. Maybe
that was part and parcel of the sin of pride that she had to repent for.
 

muskrat

Dis-Member
Nov 8, 2010
4,518
19,564
Under your bed
Well, if you wanna get all politically correct, Mother Abigail is a horrible character. But who wants to go that route? Political correctness has NO PLACE in art, and by God, it never has, nor should it ever. It's just another name for censorship, my friends. Good art SHOULD offend a few folks. Think beyond the veil of mass media...think for yerself! For it is the doom of men (and women) that they forget.

Okay, I just quoted Merlin from Excalibur. Wanna make somethin of it?

Me, I love Mother Moses...err, Mother Abigail. She fried the best chicken. Probably the only good meal served up in The Stand. Blehhhhh....
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
I liked Mother Abigail and enjoyed her whole backstory. I loved that she played old hymns on the guitar and the way she talked (mayhap) and how tough she was even though she was so old. I found it quite moving when the ones who dreamed about her finally met her. She is the heart of the story, the warmth, I feel.
And her fried chicken was to die for.
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
Well, if you wanna get all politically correct, Mother Abigail is a horrible character. But who wants to go that route? Political correctness has NO PLACE in art, and by God, it never has, nor should it ever. It's just another name for censorship, my friends. Good art SHOULD offend a few folks. Think beyond the veil of mass media...think for yerself! For it is the doom of men (and women) that they forget.

Okay, I just quoted Merlin from Excalibur. Wanna make somethin of it?

Me, I love Mother Moses...err, Mother Abigail. She fried the best chicken. Probably the only good meal served up in The Stand. Blehhhhh....

You didn't like what Nadine bubbled up while Harold was showering?

Sounded like she did good.

Larry's scrambled eggs. Cheese and open windows.

Spatula flyin earlier in book. Forget what that girl was cooking. Kippers?

I was not hungry for any pork after the 'the way the fat crackles tween you teeth scene of the pig.
 
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Pep's person

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2016
57
324
Mts o' Santa Cruz
Not meaning to imply Mother A should be more PC. Just that as an instrument of God she would have more conflicting feelings than fear and loathing for those on the other side. I think a truly godly person would also be sadden and regretful for those making that other choice. For me this would have made her a deeper, better character.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
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The High Seas
Not meaning to imply Mother A should be more PC. Just that as an instrument of God she would have more conflicting feelings than fear and loathing for those on the other side. I think a truly godly person would also be sadden and regretful for those making that other choice. For me this would have made her a deeper, better character.
Welcome to the religious and today's world. NOT ALL people of faith are hypocrits.
 

recitador

Speed Reader
Sep 3, 2016
1,750
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My only disappointment in the character of Mother Abigail is her lack of pity for Trash Can Man. She only 'sees' him as a weasel in the corn. As an element of God I think she should have had some love and pity in her heart for that poor soul. Instead she is only portrayed as disdainful of him.
the thing about this is, i'm not so sure that was literally mother abigail. yes, lot's of people dreamed of her, and she in turn dreamed of the leaders that would become established, but it's down right impossible that she dreamed of every survivor in such a short span of time. the way i took the dreams was, everyone meant to be on mother abigail's side dreamed of her as nice and gentle, and flagg as evil incarnate, and those that were meant to be on flagg's side, didn't necessarily dream of him as warm and fuzzy, but got a lot more of a negative vibe from mother abigail. i believe this was touched on in the book by exploring the dreams from a lot of different people's perspective