dysfunctional families which have greatly impacted their lives. Despite the omniscient point of view, the narrative focuses primarily on Tully Makker throughout the text. I felt impelled to sympathise with her character, however, as the story continued, I explored the text and other characters at a deeper level and was able to recognize the grounds upon which antagonist characters were shaped. For example, I initially responded to Hedda, Tully's mother with resentment and aversion. This attitude was derived from events in the text where the audience is introduced to Hedda's abuse. When Tully is about to leave for her best friend's 18th birthday party, her mother thinks she is dressing like a "slut". Hedda says,
             '...You know what makes me very angry is this sort of thing, this slut way you have about yourself, and still, after all this time you throw it at me, you parade in front of me like the tramp that you are, flinging yourself in front of me'...The fist came out, knocking Tully's hands form her face, striking her cheek and mouth, making her nose bleed again...'Say it, Tully. Say, "I am a slut"'...'SLUT!' Tully screamed. 'I am a slut! SLUT! SLUT! SLUT! SLUT!'...'Tully, there's no need to scream, but all right...Go and clean yourself up. And put on something decent.'
             (pp.18-19) Hedda's portrayal as an abusive and irresponsible mother encouraged me to sympathise with Tully and accept her lewd behaviour throughout the narrative. Her actions conflicted with my attitude towards the role of a mother and family, and so, I perceived Hedda as a negative influence on Tully and blamed her for the reckless actions of her daughter. Ironically, at a later point in the text we learn that while Hedda's father was at war in Japan for three years, Hedda was born. Upon his return
             He beat Martha [Hedda's mother] to within an inch of her...