Mrs. Lucile Wilson Character Analysis in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

’s sister-in-law and ’s mother. Lucile, fresh out of a marriage to a cruel, abusive man, dreams of getting her beautiful and talented daughter, Baby, into Hollywood pictures and making a fortune. She is fiercely protective of Baby, but often treats her daughter more like an asset or a means of making money than like an independent, autonomous person. Lucile is obsessed with Baby’s appearance, and when Baby is injured and hospitalized, Lucile frets less over how the incident will affect her daughter’s health than how it will affect her looks and her ability to perform.

Mrs. Lucile Wilson Character Timeline in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Lucile Wilson appears in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Communication and Self-Expression Theme Icon

...home, he sorts through Alice’s things and bundles them up to give to her sister Lucile Wilson. (full context)

On the day of the funeral, Biff brings Alice’s things to Lucile’s. Though Alice was her sister, the two are very unalike in demeanor and appearance. Lucile... (full context)

After getting Baby ready, Lucile goes off to get herself dressed. She leaves Baby with Biff, and Baby performs splits... (full context)

...motion as her father comes out to help carry Baby inside the house. Baby’s mother Lucile comes hurrying over, and together, she and Mr. Kelly ride in an ambulance with Baby... (full context)

...shame and hardship this incident stands to bring them. At one point in the evening, Lucile Wilson calls the house and says she’s coming over to have a talk with the... (full context)

Lucile Wilson comes inside—Biff Brannon is with her. The two of them sit in the living... (full context)

One Sunday, Lucile and Baby come to the café for lunch. Baby still has a bandage on her... (full context)

Biff serves Lucile and then returns to the register, where he watches his patrons eat. He contemplates the... (full context)

In the wake of Bubber and Baby’s accident, the Kelly family—forced to repay Lucile each month—has fallen on hard times. Mick hardly ever has any pocket change anymore, and... (full context)

...house are unstable and uncertain—the family is strapped for cash due to their arrangement with Lucile Wilson, and on top of it all, the sickly Etta isn’t able to work. Mr.... (full context)