Aunty Viv Character Analysis

Aunty Viv, aunt to Beth Teller, sister-in-law to Michael Teller, and sister to Aunty June, was driving 15-year-old Beth to a birthday party in the rain when another car skidded and struck them, killing Beth. Though Aunty Viv is a vivacious woman who loves nail polish, high heels, and bright colors, she becomes so grief-stricken in the aftermath of Beth’s death that she starts wearing gray tracksuits and flats. When Michael refuses to talk to her after the accident, she shows up at his door and yells that she wishes she had died instead of Beth. Although Aunty Viv can’t see or hear Beth’s ghost, she snaps out of her paralyzing grief when Beth’s ghost yells at her not to “fall[] apart” like Michael has—hinting that ghosts can communicate with the living indirectly, even when the living can’t hear them. Afterward, Aunty Viv starts wearing bright colors again and keeps calling Michael, even though he won’t pick up the phone. Aunty Viv models a healthier way to pass through paralyzing grief that benefits her brother-in-law in the end, too.