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Mary Rambo is a kind and generous Black woman who takes the narrator in after his traumatizing stay at the factory hospital. In addition to giving him a place to stay, she makes sure he gets enough to eat and never hassles him about paying rent. This caretaker instinct allows Mary to serve as a source of stability for the narrator, and, considering the metaphorical rebirth he experiences in the hospital, she eventually becomes a mother figure in his life. Staying in her home and observing the way she engages with the world around her gives the narrator an opportunity to develop as an individual free from the stifling philosophies of his school. Mary even encourages this kind of independent growth when she advises him not to “let this Harlem git you,” or allow the dominant culture of New York to determine who he is or can be. For a while, the narrator follows this advice and begins connecting with his Southern roots. The scene with the yam seller, for example, occurs during the narrator’s stay at Mary’s. She also believes in the narrator and his ability to make a difference in their community, and while her words do not necessarily have a direct effect on his turn to the Brotherhood, her support keeps his hopes of a bright future alive.
Although the narrator’s perception of Mary grows more complicated throughout the course of his stay, her strength and resilience remain undeniable. She carries on as usual despite the fact that, as the frequent serving of cabbage suggests, she is struggling financially. Mary also refuses to abandon the idea that the narrator has the power to become a leader in the Black community even though it takes him months to secure a job. This spirit in the face of adversity serves as an example of the kind of courage that the narrator will need as he steps out on his own, and he often thinks back to Mary when he needs strength or comfort. Even though he grows frustrated with her chatter, laments the impact of her financial troubles, and leaves without saying goodbye, the kindness that Mary shows the narrator remains with him.
