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Much of Louie’s fierce and determined spirit comes from his mother Louise. Not only do the two share an uncanny physical resemblance, but they also share a resilient nature that enables Louie’s will to survive and Louise’s belief that her son is still alive. During Louie’s childhood, Louise is witty and spunky, outsmarting her boys to keep tabs on their whereabouts and defying the norms of motherhood by dressing up like a boy to trick-or-treat with her kids. As Louie’s life unfolds, Louise’s spunk evolves into a deeper dissent against the status quo. Louise refuses to believe that Louie is dead, not only when he is declared missing, but even after the military posts his death announcement. She keeps his room exactly as it was when he left and holds a steady belief in her heart that he is alive. On the raft, Louie describes Louise’s cooking to Phil in tantalizing detail, and the men seem able to survive just on the thought of her food. Louise represents the unwavering grit it takes to hope in what seems impossible, and the love she has for her son seems to somehow carry him through some of his darkest moments, even thousands of miles away.
