Mildred Pierce

Veda, Mildred’s older daughter, physically takes after her mother—she is a pretty girl with coppery red hair. She is totally unlike either parent, however, in her defining trait—her inability to recognize others as human beings. In childhood and adulthood, Veda treats those around her as objects or as means to an end—her extreme narcissism and selfishness remain unchanged throughout the novel. Veda values people only to the extent that they can help her achieve her goals, which are living in the upper class and being adored for her musical talent. Whether she is ordering Letty to dress as a maid and follow behind her in public, pretending be pregnant to blackmail Sam Forrester, or acting as if she can no longer sing so she can break a performance contract, Veda believes she is owed whatever she wants.

Veda’s characterization borders on sociopathy, although this kind of psychological diagnosis is anachronistic. Disturbingly, Veda’s unemotional journey through life makes her a frequent victim of violence—in fact, the only physical assaults in the novel feature Veda. Veda’s mother spanks her when Veda is a child and chokes her when she is an adult. Veda’s agent routinely slaps her as a way of keeping her in line. Writing with the mores of his time, Cain does not comment on this feature of Veda’s life—the assumption is that readers will agree that Veda’s behavior can’t help but provoke those around her to violence. Modern readers, however, will find these moments harder to the dismiss.

In the beginning of the novel, Mildred’s first husband Bert is a self-deluded dreamer who believes himself to be a skilled entrepreneur. In reality, he was just lucky to inherit a large plot of land he could break up and resell. When the Great Depression closes his business, Bert imagines new, fanciful ideas for making money, ideas he has no way of implementing, to distract himself from money problems he cannot deal with. The same mechanism is at work when his beloved daughter Ray dies: Bert shuts down, retreating into the platitude that Ray is in heaven.

Over the course of the story, Bert grows an awareness of his mistakes, sees the difficulties other people face, and finally understands how he can be of service. When celebrating Mildred’s achievements, Bert admits before a group of people that he was foolish for leaving her. By the end of the novel, Bert has dropped his defensiveness and sensitivity and become Mildred’s counselor and comforter. He is humbled by Mildred’s willingness to marry him again. Bert’s renewed marital commitment, however, comes with a complete abandonment of his role as a father. When Veda plays her last trick and leaves, Bert’s first concern is not that his 20-year-old daughter is headed to New York with her ex-stepfather, but that his wife has been slighted. In a strange display of alienation, he and Mildred toast each other for having finally gotten rid of their one living child.