Deenie

In the first chapter, Deenie states, “Ma says the first time she held me she knew right away that if she named me Deenie I would turn out the same way—beautiful, that is” (1). By mentioning Thelma’s ambitions at the very beginning of the novel, the narrative hints at Deenie’s upcoming emotional conflict. Helen and Deenie are each assigned a distinct role by their mother, with Helen being categorized as smart and Deenie as beautiful. Through Thelma’s interactions with her daughters, the novel explores how parental ambitions and expectations affect their children’s identities and sense of self-worth.

Thelma encourages her daughters to fulfill the roles she has chosen for them to the highest standard. She wants Deenie to become a famous model so that she can gain wealth and social capital that will enable her to live a safe, comfortable life. Thelma is actively involved in Deenie’s life: She coaches her, makes appointments with modeling agencies, and plans every step of her future. Although Helen is slightly more independent than Deenie, Thelma also encourages her older daughter to pursue an intellectual career, focus on her academics, and avoid distractions like parties and romance. As she explains at the end of the book, Thelma simply “wanted better [than what she had herself]” for her daughters (149).