Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut

In "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" Salinger presents us with a woman, Eloisa, who seems careless because she did not marry Walt, the man she loved. Throughout the story Eloisa constantly criticizes her daughter's actions, insults her old college roommate, Mary Jane, and is extremely inconsiderate towards her maid, Grace. She continuously bombards her daughter, Ramona, with commands as if she is a dog. For instance, during the conversation Ramona had with Mary Jane, Eloisa told …

…of dresses in New York, and I cried all night? I was a nice girl, wasn't I?" Perhaps Eloisa's encounter with her daughter only happened to be so negative because she was jealous that even though Ramona lost Jimmy, she met Mickey; but Eloisa, did not have anyone at all. It is obvious that Eloisa is still haunted by Walt's death. Her jealous act towards her daughter proves that she is miserable with out Walt.