Mattie

Mattie Ross is the narrator of True Grit, a 1968 novel by Charles Portis that was later made into two Academy Award winning films, in 1969 and 2010. If ever the word “plucky” applied to a character, it does to Mattie Ross. She is a fourteen year old rancher’s daughter who is determined to capture the murderer of her father. To this end, she takes it upon herself to enlist the services of an old has-been U. S. Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, whom she’s heard has “grit”. That’s reason enough for Mattie, for courage, determination and persistence - in a word - grit, are high virtues in her world. With clear-sightedness and the bravery of a woman three times her age, Mattie participates fully in her little “posse”, enduring ridicule, discomfort and attempted murder to get her man. Get him she does, with a little help, and revenge is duly meted out. Life was harsh in the Territories in the 19th century, most certainly so for women, and most assuredly so for female children. Mattie Ross is a young woman of her times, yet beyond them, who deserves the accolade of “True Grit” for her very own self!

Mattie Silver is a character in Edith Wharton’s 1911 novel, Ethan Frome, and she is the focal point of the novel’s major plot turns. Matttie is a poor cousin of Ethan Frome’s sickly wife, Zeena, who lives with them and earns her keep looking after Zeena. Mattie is a pretty and gracious young girl consigned to a joyless lifestyle, but it is mainly in her contrast with the horrid, shrewish Zeena that she shines. No wonder that, living with these two women, Ethan Frome falls for Mattie! Zeena is a nasty woman, pure and simple, and she is on to Mattie’s almost unconscious aims upon Zeena’s husband. Mattie even goes so far as to suggest a suicide pact between her and Ethan that goes badly awry. Poor Mattie – the wages of attempted sin are high indeed, in her case, but she must have gained some little comfort in knowing that she has pretty thoroughly messed up things for Zeena as well.