Does the mother portray a realistic parent?

The mother is, along with Emily, a major character who
like most parents is vulnerable to doubt about the way she has raised her child. In the
story the mother cites many occasions of regret—the separations, illnesses, instances of
negligence and even neglect, and fears. Her narrative is laced with poignant memories of
pain and helplessness (see paragraphs (24, 29, 30, and 35). It is these which make plain
that the conflict in the story is the ideal vs. the actual upbringing of Emily, the
daughter, with the complementary conflict being that the expected negative results do
not occur but rather that Emily grows up to be a vital, talented young woman. The
affirmative paragraphs near the end (paragraphs 46–50) are not totally negated by the
moderately pessimistic conclusion (paragraphs 54, 55), for these last two may be
considered a function of the anguish and self-doubt that never leave a caring parent.
The mother, in this respect, is real.