Rita Corduroy
Rita Corduroy is Henry Pines's mother. She is most well-known for her and Henry's estrangement in Henry's adulthood, due to her and her husband's abusive parenting.
Appearance
Rita has graying brown hair that she sometimes wears up in a bun on top of her head. Like her son, she too wears glasses and is covered in freckles.[1]
Personality
Rita is an extremely traditional woman, with very set ideas of what is appropriate behavior for men and women. She believes a woman belongs in the home, raising children, though she is not as physically or verbally aggressive about enforcing these ideas as her husband Arnold. [1]
History
Growing up, Rita's parents were abusive, something that likely contributed to her traditionalist mindset as an adult. She was often beaten for minor offenses, such as playing with boys or asking to wear pants instead of skirts, and her college acceptance letter was burned in front of her eyes.[2]
During Henry's childhood, Rita not only ignored Arnold's physical abuse, but she actively encouraged it, frequently assigning Henry chores or tasks of which she knew her husband would disapprove right before Arnold was due home.[2]
When Henry left home at eighteen, he did remain in contact with Rita, occasionally calling her on the phone and updating her on his life. Rita first met Mabel, Henry's then-fiancee, two months before the wedding. This meeting resulted in Henry cutting contact with his parents entirely[1] until the birth of his children, when he briefly called Rita and Arnold to inform them.[3] Rita did not attend Henry's wedding,[1] nor was she present for the birth of her grandchildren.[3]
During the first sixteen years of her grandchildren's lives, it is implied that Rita had very little contact with Henry and Mabel.
Around 2042 or 2043, Rita fell down the church stairs and broke her leg. During her recovery, which lasted about six weeks, she was unable to take care of the house as she normally would, forcing Arnold to take on many household chores. This event spurred her and Arnold into attempting to seize custody of their grandchildren from Mabel and Henry, in order to use them as additional help around the house. The Woodsman eventually discovered this plot, and invaded her dreams, cutting off her hands. Because this event occurred psychically, her hands were not physically cut off. However, after the fact, she forever had thick scars around her wrists, and no feeling at all in her hands. For the rest of her life, her hands remained corpse-cold and incapable of fine motor control.[2]
Relationships
Arnold Corduroy
Arnold Corduroy is Rita's husband. While Rita acts the part of a dutiful wife, she is occasionally tempted to strike out on her own to pursue her own passions and hobbies. However, her opinions on the duties of a wife to her husband prevent her from entertaining these urges, even in the privacy of her own mind.[2]
Henry Corduroy
Rita and Henry have a complicated relationship. During his childhood, she often enabled and encouraged his father's abuse. However, throughout Henry's early years away from his family, he called her at least semi-regularly, implying he was somewhat closer to her than to Arnold. After Henry marries Mabel and starts his own family, he eventually comes to the decision that there is too much hurt for the two of them to rebuild what is left of their relationship.[2]
Trivia
- Rita takes her tea with two sugars and a splash of cream.[2]
- She plays an active role in the New Canaan Methodist Church.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Seiya234 (mod S). "Meat Cute" (2014). [Archive of Our Own] <https://archiveofourown.org/works/2416994>
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Seiya234 (mod S). "The Woodsman" (2015). [Archive of Our Own] <https://archiveofourown.org/works/2628671>
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Seiya234 (mod S). "Shooting Stars, chapter 10" (2014). [Archive of Our Own] <https://archiveofourown.org/works/2421911/chapters/5469971>
