Mrs. Sen's part two

" It's delicious," she would conclude, setting down the plate after a bite or two. Eliot knew she didn't like the tastes;she'd told him once in the car...She sat at the table as he ate, drinking more wine and asking how his day was, but eventually she went to the deck to smoke a cigarette, leaving Eliot to wrap up the leftovers." This quote characterizes Eliot's mother. She lies to Mrs. Sen, which shows she's fake. She's not a maternal figure. Smoking cigarettes shows she doesn't care what kind of example she sets for her son. Leaving her young child to clean up the leftovers by himself is selfish of her. She is not acting like the adult. The characterization of Eliot's mother is so important because it is a foil for Mrs. Sen who is completely opposite, she is maternal and warm. The immaturity and selfishness of his mother highlights the warmth and maternal instincts of Mrs. Sen.