Mattie (Samantha Hunter) Character Analysis in Near the Bone

Overview: The Woman Behind the Name Mattie is the name William forces on a kidnapped child, but the novel's protagonist is Samantha Hunter, a young woman who gradually reclaims her true identity over the course of the story. The narrative opens with her living in isolation on a mountain, believing she is William's wife and that her memories of a prior life are false. As the plot unfolds, she recovers fragments of her past—her mother, her sister Heather, and the night William took her—and transforms from a passive victim into an active agent of her own escape. Her arc is one of identity erasure and reclamation, culminating in her final declaration, “Samantha. My name is Samantha,” at the state troopers' barracks. This analysis traces her journey, motivations, relationships, and the key decisions that define her character, grounding every claim in the novel's events and evidence from the text. ## Plot Role Mattie is the central protagonist and point-of-view character. The story follows her daily life under William's control, her discovery of the mysterious creature on the mountain, and her eventual alliance with three strangers—C.P., Griffin, and Jen—who stumble onto the mountain. She serves as the narrative's emotional and moral center, and her perspective shapes the reader's understanding of both the domestic horror of her captivity and the external threat of the creature. Her role evolves from a passive observer of her own suffering to an active participant in her rescue, and finally to the person who kills William and leads the survivors to safety. ## Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions Mattie's primary motivation is survival, but her actions reveal a deeper drive to reclaim her identity and reunite with her sister. Early in the novel, she considers fleeing but fears the townspeople would return her to William, so she stays. This fear is not cowardice but a realistic assessment of her powerlessness. As she recovers memories, her motivation shifts from mere survival to a deliberate plan of escape. She hides money from William, studies his routines, and waits for the right moment to leave. Her resourcefulness is evident when she uses a sled to transport the injured Jen, cuts off her long hair (which William had insisted she keep), and takes William's keys and money to facilitate their flight. Her compassion is shown when she warns the strangers about the danger, even though she knows William will punish her for interacting with them. She also risks her life to help C.P. retrieve Griffin's camera and pack, and she insists on getting Jen to a doctor. These actions demonstrate that despite years of abuse, she retains a moral core and a capacity for empathy. ## Chronological Arc Mattie's arc can be divided into three phases: captivity, awakening, and liberation. Captivity: The novel opens with Mattie checking snares and being beaten for not returning quickly. She is trapped in a cycle of abuse, where William's punishments are designed to keep her physically weak and psychologically dependent. She recalls three lost pregnancies and the beating that left her arm permanently damaged. Her only solace is the memory of her sister Heather, though the image is blurry. Awakening: The arrival of the strangers and the discovery of the creature force Mattie to confront the possibility of escape. She begins to remember her past in fragments—the yellow sweater, the white table, the name Samantha. She also realizes that William's punishments are not about her behavior but about keeping her from running. This insight empowers her to plan her escape. When she finds the newspaper clippings in William's trunk, she recognizes herself as a missing girl and sees a photo of her mother, solidifying her true identity. Liberation: After William is wounded by the creature, he ambushes Mattie and insists she is his wife. She denies this, asserts her real name, and pushes him off a cliff, killing him. She then helps C.P., discovers the creature has a parent and offspring, and drives to the state troopers' barracks. Her final act is to give her name as Samantha, symbolizing her complete reclamation of self. ## Relationships William: The central relationship is one of coercive control. William uses physical violence, psychological manipulation, and religious justification to keep Mattie submissive. He renames her, isolates her, and tells her that her memories are false. He also uses the Box—a coffin-like trapdoor space—to imprison her as punishment. Mattie's relationship with him is defined by fear, but as she recovers her identity, she moves from fear to defiance, ultimately killing him to protect herself and others. C.P., Griffin, and Jen: These strangers become her allies. C.P. is the most supportive, helping her open the Box, encouraging her to reclaim her name, and assisting in the escape. Griffin recognizes her from somewhere but cannot place her, hinting at her fame as a missing person. Jen, though injured, provides a model of independence and strength. Mattie's interactions with them show her learning to trust again, despite her initial fear that they might be like William. Heather and Her Mother: These are memory-based relationships. Mattie's love for her sister and mother motivates her desire to escape and reclaim her identity. She remembers Heather's freckles and brown eyes, and she longs to find her. The newspaper clippings reveal her mother's murder, which confirms William's crime. These relationships anchor her humanity and give her a reason to fight. ## Key Decisions and Consequences 1. Deciding to stay after the first night: Mattie considers fleeing but believes the townspeople would return her to William. This decision prolongs her captivity but also allows her to plan more carefully. 2. Warning the strangers about the creature: She tries to convince them to leave, but they stay. This leads to Griffin's death and Jen's injury, but also to her alliance with C.P. and her eventual escape. 3. Taking William's keys and money: This act of theft enables her to drive the truck and escape the mountain. It also symbolizes her rejection of William's authority. 4. Cutting her hair: This is a symbolic act of defiance against William's control over her appearance, marking her psychological break from his rules. 5. Killing William: She pushes him off a cliff, ending his threat. This is a decisive act of self-defense and a final rejection of his claim over her. 6. Giving her name as Samantha: This is the culmination of her identity reclamation, signaling that she is no longer Mattie, William's property, but Samantha Hunter, a free woman. ## Theme and Symbol Connections Mattie's character embodies several of the novel's central themes. Her experience of coercive control through religious justification is evident in William's use of scripture and his claim that she is his wife. Her journey of identity erasure and reclamation is symbolized by the name change from Mattie to Samantha, and by her cutting her hair. The theme of memory suppression and recovery is central to her arc, as she gradually pieces together her past through sensory triggers and newspaper clippings. The wilderness as prison and refuge is reflected in her confinement to the mountain, which is both a trap and a place where she learns to survive. Finally, the predation as a mirror of human control is seen in the creature's behavior, which parallels William's predatory control over Mattie; both are hunters who treat others as prey. ## Book-Specific Questions and Answers 1. Why does Mattie initially refuse to leave with the strangers? Mattie refuses because she fears that if she leaves with them, William will follow and harm them. She also believes that the townspeople would return her to William, and she does not trust that strangers can help her. Her decision is based on a realistic assessment of her powerlessness and her desire to protect others from William's violence. 2. What triggers Mattie's first clear memory of her mother? While cleaning the cabin, Mattie has a sudden flashback of a woman in a yellow sweater with curly hair, seen from behind. This memory surfaces after she thinks about her sister Heather and her own brown eyes. The image is fleeting but confirms that she had a life before William. 3. How does Mattie's perception of William's punishments change? She realizes that William beats her not because of her behavior but to keep her physically weak and psychologically dependent. She understands that every beating takes away her strength and courage, making it harder for her to run away. This insight empowers her to plan her escape. 4. What does Mattie find in William's locked trunk, and why is it significant? She finds packets of heroin, stacks of cash, and newspaper clippings about a missing girl and a murder. The clippings include a photo of her mother and a story about her own disappearance, confirming her identity as Samantha Hunter and William's crime. This discovery gives her the evidence she needs to fully reclaim her name. 5. Why does Mattie decide to kill William rather than let him live? When William ambushes her, he insists she is his wife and must submit. Mattie denies this, asserts her real name, and backs toward a cliff. When he tries to grab her, she dodges and pushes him over the edge. This is an act of self-defense, as William is armed and intends to recapture her. It also represents her final rejection of his control and her determination to never be his victim again.