matilda cook from fever 1793 lucille cook

She contrasts her own upbringing with the upbringing of her mother and reflects that she will never be comfortable as a fashionable lady of leisure. She is proud to be from the middle-class, and her dreams involve building her own business ventures. Cook is ambitious that her daughter could advance her social position through marriage, Mattie wants to make her own way in the world.

Mattie is proud, and it hurts her pride to know that others are quietly laughing at her.

She knows that the wealthier women are judging her and her mother due to their lack of money and glamor. Over the course of having tea with the Ogilvie ladies, Mattie becomes increasingly agitated. Mother may have grown up with carriages and gowns, but I had not. Mattie's ability to dream big dreams and stubbornly pursue them will benefit her later in the novel when she has to take on challenges beyond what she ever could have imagined at this point, though, Mattie focuses all of her energy on her own desires. When she thinks about her future, she only imagines the greatness she will be able to achieve and how she can get what she wants. Mattie is intelligent and ambitious, but she is also somewhat spoiled. Mattie reflects on these ideas early in the novel, as she feels frustrated and defiant about being told what to do. They would call me 'Ma'am.' Mattie, pg.12 Grandfather said I was a Daughter of Liberty, a real American Girl.

Matilda cook from fever 1793 lucille cook