Katie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

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Katie Nolan in *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* is the hardworking, emotionally reserved mother who struggles to keep her impoverished Brooklyn family afloat while grappling with her husband’s alcoholism and her own conflicted affections.

Aliases (2)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
mother
appearsIn A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
characterTrait emotionally reserved
hardworking
practical
proud
resourceful
strict
child Francie Nolan
Laurie Nolan NERFINISHED
Neeley Nolan
createdBy Betty Smith
emotion conflicted affections toward her daughter Francie
conflicted affections toward her husband
ethnicBackground Irish American
familyRole mother of Francie Nolan
primary breadwinner
firstAppearance novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
gender female
literaryPeriod 20th-century American literature
maidenName Katie Rommely
nationality American
notableAction manages household finances strictly
shows more overt affection to Neeley than to Francie
supports her family through multiple cleaning jobs
occupation cleaning woman
janitress
parent Mary Rommely
relationshipWith Francie Nolan
Johnny Nolan
Laurie Nolan NERFINISHED
Neeley Nolan
residence Brooklyn
settingOfLife early 20th-century Brooklyn
sibling Evie Rommely
Sissy Rommely
spouse Johnny Nolan
Katie Nolan
strugglesWith husband's alcoholism
poverty
themeAssociation family resilience
mother-daughter relationships
poverty
sacrifice
value education for her children
financial security
respectability

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Dorothy McGuire
portrayed

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