Before the Group Read began I mentioned the possibility of looking at Catherine's Mother Figures as a focus topic. I had read a paper (yes, yet another - I was determined to be prepared for the GR!) by Elvira Casal which stated that Catherine had three Mother Figures in NA:

• Mrs. Morland: practical, sensible, busy, Catherine's teacher and giver of her moral code
  
• Mrs. Allen: whom Catherine consults but who is not of much use. Catherine ventually turns to Mr. Allen when Mrs. Allen abdicates her responsibility toward her. But this has the result of forcing Catherine to think for herself.
  
• Mrs. Tilney: This is the one which surprised people. How can she be a Mother Figure when she is dead? Ms. Casal contends that Mrs. Tilney has a very strong presence at NA and Catherine's fantasies about her propels much of the action there. She also reflects Catherine’s longing for a Mother Figure to explain what’s wrong at Abbey.