The Overstory

by

Richard Powers

Mother N Character Analysis

Mother N is a leading figure in the Life Defense Force, and she is usually the woman holding the megaphone during their meetings and protests. She advocates for entirely non-violent activism in the fight against the logging companies. She is killed along with Moses when their group’s office is bombed.
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Mother N Character Timeline in The Overstory

The timeline below shows where the character Mother N appears in The Overstory. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: Trunk
Humans and Trees Theme Icon
Destruction, Extinction, and Rebirth Theme Icon
Consciousness, Value, and Meaning Theme Icon
...eat with a man named Moses, and the next day they meet a woman named Mother N , whom Olivia recognizes as the person she saw on the TV screens at the... (full context)
Humans and Trees Theme Icon
Destruction, Extinction, and Rebirth Theme Icon
Consciousness, Value, and Meaning Theme Icon
That night Mother N speaks to the assembled group, encouraging those still volunteering and asking for nonviolent protesting tactics.... (full context)
Humans and Trees Theme Icon
Human Nature, Psychology, and Storytelling Theme Icon
Consciousness, Value, and Meaning Theme Icon
Afterward, a group prepares to sabotage some logging equipment, despite Mother N ’s discouragement. Before they go, Nick paints everyone’s faces in fantastical designs. Olivia takes his... (full context)
Humans and Trees Theme Icon
Destruction, Extinction, and Rebirth Theme Icon
Human Nature, Psychology, and Storytelling Theme Icon
...returns to retrieve Adam. He climbs up to the platform and then delivers bad news: Mother N and Moses are dead. Someone bombed their office, but the police are saying that they... (full context)