How To Hang A Witch

Mather uses the theme of The Relationship Between Teenage Girls and Mothers both as a plot device and to hold up contrasting examples of motherhood as it relates to teenagers who are trying to gain independence.

The conflicts between teenage girls and their mothers, and even more famously their stepmothers, are tropes that reach back to oral storytelling and fairy tales where evil stepmothers are standard characters. Stories involving stepmothers and stepdaughters typically go one of two ways: Either the stepmother is evil and defeated, or the conflict is resolved as the teenager matures, and the mother accepts her daughter’s independence. The first type of story tends to exist in the realm of fantasy, and the other in more realistic stories of personal growth. Mather uses these expectations and twists them to add an element of surprise, putting the evil stepmother character in a realistic relationship. By showing Sam remembering good times when she was little, feeling remorse and affection when she fights with Vivian, and mentioning the fact that it could be stress from her father’s situation that is causing the conflicts, Mather signals that this relationship sits firmly in the reality-based second plot line where the conflict between the mother and daughter is a symptom of Sam growing up. The occasional clues that this may not be the case are explained away by Sam, and she has trouble believing someone who stands up so viciously for her stepdaughter has an evil agenda. By playing on preconceived ideas of established plot lines when it comes to mother-daughter relationships, Mather creates a surprise when Vivian turns out to be the quintessential wicked stepmother. However, there is something close to forgiveness at the end when Sam holds her dying stepmother, and Vivian returns to a less frightening form.

Mather provides positive and negative examples of mothering to illustrate how different mother-daughter relationships can be. Vivian’s way of dealing with Sam’s problems does not provide the type of support her stepdaughter needs and only increases feelings of negativity. When Sam’s pastries are poisoned or a rock is thrown through the window, Vivian rages at perceived culprits. Sam notes, “She’ll fight for me, but right now I really need comfort more than anything” (49). Vivian’s anger and flexing of her power don’t help Sam, who is naturally drawn to the neighbor Mrs. Meriwether—Vivian’s opposite. Mrs. Meriwether provides a gentler, more positive example of mothering. The comfort she provides is palpable in the form of delicious homemade food, and while Vivian accuses and suspects, Mrs. Meriwether provides unquestioning acceptance. Even when Sam comes over to make a potion, Mrs. Meriwether eagerly assists without questioning or judging Sam’s motives. She gives Sam advice rather than orders and tells her helpful, heart-warming stories about Sam's family. While Mrs. Meriwether isn’t always a responsible adult figure, the unquestioning help and support along with the surplus of delicious food and cheerfulness creates a teenage girl’s dream mother. While Vivian is the suspicious mother who can’t give up the control established during childhood, Mrs. Meriwether is a maternal figure who is working with Sam to give her independence and support as she moves into adulthood.