Mae

Mae’s purpose in the play is primarily to act as a point of comparison for Maggie – even their names are intended to be similar. Mae has ticked all of the boxes in terms of fitting into society. She married a successful lawyer, had five children, and has another one on the way. Maggie on the other hand is yet to fulfil her ‘role’ as a woman by having children and is therefore viewed by some of the characters (namely Big Mama) as a lacking wife.