...and I think you are making sense. I have not thought about this before, but I feel the same way you do: I feel Mary *could* be likeable, but at the moment she is just so exasperating! It wouldn't need that much - if only she'd stop whining and imagining herself slighted in every occasion, she might actually be a fairly good wife and daughter-in-law. (Some suspicions linger still; can't imagine her excelling in raising children, but hey - you can't have it all, I guess...) I almost feel sorry for her, because she is unable to see, that if she made an effort and tried to grow up a little bit, she'd be much happier herself. And it would definitely make a world of difference in the life and comfort of everyone around her!