Mrs. Peggot Character Analysis in Demon Copperhead

Nance Peggot, more often referred to as Mrs. Peggot, is Maggot’s grandmother who, along with Mr. Peggot, helps raise Maggot after his mother is sent to prison. The novel portrays Mrs. Peggot as kind and caring, and she and her husband become a surrogate family to Demon. When he is a young child, Demon even calls her mammaw, thinking that she is, in some ways, his own grandmother. The Peggots decline to take Demon in after Mom dies, though, because they are already exhausted from raising Maggot. Even though Mrs. Peggot doesn’t take Demon in, she and her family are some of the most devoted members of the community who look after Demon after his immediate family is no longer around to do so.

Mrs. Peggot Character Timeline in Demon Copperhead

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Peggot appears in Demon Copperhead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Damon Fields, the book’s narrator, describes the day he was born. That day, Nance Peggot barges into Damon’s mom’s house and finds her in the middle of labor, passed... (full context)

Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon

...a boy named Maggot. “Maggot” is short for Matt Peggot, and he’s the grandson of Nance. The place where they live is famous for its copperheads, but Damon never sees one.... (full context)

Damon’s mom has a different story about Damon’s birth than Nance Peggot’s. But, Damon says, anyone who had met both his mom and Nance would know... (full context)

...Maggot’s aunt June got her nursing degree and moved to Knoxville. Damon used to call Mrs. Peggot Mammaw, which embarrasses him now. Mrs. Peggot is the only one who keeps using his... (full context)

Mrs. Peggot ends up talking to Mom, who then tries to talk to Stoner about his treatment... (full context)

...her league and feels like she’s won the lottery when he becomes interested in her. Mrs. Peggot warns Mariah about him and forbids her from seeing him. Mariah sees no other choice... (full context)

...he grabs the phone to call 911. Stoner punches him to try and stop him. Mrs. Peggot pounds on the door. Demon rides up front with the driver after the ambulance arrives.... (full context)

...found out where he lived from the school bus driver, bypassing DSS entirely. Demon shows Mrs. Peggot and Maggot the house while Mr. Peggot talks to Crickson. The house’s condition upsets Mrs.... (full context)

Maggot is on board with Demon joining the Peggots in Knoxville for Christmas, but Mrs. Peggot thinks about it all night before deciding to let Demon come. In Knoxville, Aunt June... (full context)

Back at the Peggots’ house, Demon works up his nerve and asks Mrs. Peggot if they might think of adopting him or fostering him. Mrs. Peggot says Miss Barks... (full context)

One day, Mrs. Peggot calls Demon at Coach’s house, and they arrange for Demon to go to the Peggots... (full context)

After that, Demon finally gets the true story of Betsy coming to visit his mother. Mrs. Peggot says Betsy didn’t visit on the day of Demon’s birth, like Mom said, but a... (full context)

Maggot moves back in with Mrs. Peggot . Tommy is the only person who is able to cheer up Demon. Demon will... (full context)

The next week, Maggot asks Demon to pick him up from Mrs. Peggot ’s. After he does, Maggot gives him directions to another house, where they pick up... (full context)

Demon starts living in Dori’s old car, an Impala, until Maggot finds him. Mrs. Peggot says she wants Demon to move in with them. Demon moves, and he and Maggot... (full context)

When he’s released from the hospital, Demon returns to Mrs. Peggot ’s house. It falls on him to tell the Peggots how Hammer died. Maggot is... (full context)