Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Midnight Teatime #1 - Mother's Day (Patreon)

Published:
2020-05-19 06:26:33
Edited:
2020-06-02 13:15:02
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Edit: remember to save your essays elsewhere, y'all! Patreon has been spiriting away posts 🤧🤧Deepest thanks to Emily and Lola for putting together the Midnight Teatime prompts with tons of love and affection for the MPL universe 💕Special thanks to Alice's Bookies - y'all know who you are 😘 Welcome to the first edition of Midnight Teatime <33 I hope you're all as excited as I am to get started! You can expect to see some changes made to this segment, until everything is running smoothly. More importantly, I'd like everyone to join in and have fun, and unleash your inner essay nerd because we are HERE FOR IT. Let's jump right in 🔥🔥🔥For detailed info on this segment, please see this post. For today's prompt and MTT guidelines, read on below.This Week's Essay Prompt:For today's topic, let's discuss the role of maternal figures in Midnight Poppy land. Mother's Day is over now, but it's never too late to celebrate the trials and tribulations of Motherhood.  A person's core personality traits -- their openness, self awareness, social behaviors, etc -- are often first shaped by the parental figures in their life. In the story so far, we have only fleeting background information on the character's families. Using our beloved Granny Alice as a starting point, discuss how the current characters have acted as a maternal force in another character's life. You may choose one or multiple characters for your essay.Guidelines:1) Essay Prompts are posted twice a month. "Essay" = any written analysis, opinion or theory based on the prompt. Research the topic and learn something new, or let your mind run away with the question. Basically, just have fun!2) As soon as you've completed your essay, post them in the comment section below. There are no deadlines, but do finish up your essays before the next prompt is up, so more people get to read it.3) There are no word count requirements, but feel free to link to an external document (eg, Google Doc) when necessary.4) This exercise is open to ALL Patrons, so...• If you are a non-Fast Pass user, note that there will be spoilers, so do navigate the posts with your own discretion.• If you are a Fast Pass user writing about FP content, you must mark your post with the *SPOILER WARNING* tag. Fast Past-related posts without a spoiler tag will be removed immediately, but you may re-post it with the tag in place.5) Please be respectful and courteous. Everyone's thoughts and opinions are equally valid and welcome. And if your opinion is a strongly negative one, do be gentle with it.6) This exercise is meant to open up more in-depth discussions, so even if you're not posting an essay, you are always welcome to leave your comments, and dive into more discussions with the essay contributors. (I'm still figuring out how this should work, so for now, let's keep this free-and-easy!) Final note from Lily: This is a fun, informal writing exercise, and while I respect all theories and analysis, the essays presented here are not necessarily conclusive to the main MPL storyline.

Files

Comments

Laura

No comments?!? Thank you Lily for creating my all time favorite webtoon

Lilydusk

Everyone be shy!! Post away guys, no restrictions. All are welcome 🥰🥰❤️🙌

Gizemdrawssometimes

Omg its actually happening! I have an exam in like 2 hours and this is what i would rather be doing 😂

Gizemdrawssometimes

Thank you 😭😭 I'm actually just reading through the webtoon for the millionth time because it calms me down thank you for such an awesome read 🥰❤

Darla (Tora’s THOT)

I’m already filling my notebook with notes!!!! Don’t worry!!! Going through chapters as seconds go by!!!

Myosotis

Just to be sure... You mean theories about Poppy's mother and Tora's mother figures?

larosamorada

*Excited SpongeBob gif* I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready! 🤩🤩🤩 Also, I love that this is open to all patrons because we FP and non-FP / SG & non-SG don't always get to interact. So hi y'all! *Cracks knuckles* Y'all know my therapist brain is gonna eat this topic up! Can't wait to see what others write &, flex our inner Freud's! 🤣🤣

Julia G

This is gonna take a bit of extra thinking 🤔 motherly figures aren’t very well known in the series so far 🤗 time for another re-read 🤓

PixieMuffin

My brain is already whirring! I feel like this is a great opportunity to revisit MPL from the beginning, while keeping this specific prompt in mind!

S M O L L

*Fast Pass Spoilers* Okay! I'm so excited! This is kind of loose, but damn I want to write an essay! If we directly compare the 3 mothers we see in MPL I think the main theme may be the absence of mothers and the happiness/completeness of maternal figures leave lasting impacts on their dependants. First, we have Alice. Her son clearly was a bit of a bad boy (tattoos are often indications of gang/bad life in MPL). As can be seen from her hiring policy and interactions with Tora, Alice has elements of forgiveness in her character. She clearly wants what is best, is willing to forgive mistakes, and it's going to take shit. Her forgiveness is what saved her son from a gang lifestyle. We can also see Tora open up and be more fragile in her presence (episode 16 is the first sighting of Tora dimples). Quincy's mom (at least I think that's his mom) can be seen in episode 5. She has a disregard for human life and violence that is carried on to her son (who is a cinnamon roll, but as can be seen in the Ben incident ep 25 and 26 isn't the most aware of others as people). She is emotionally absent and so that carries on to her son. The final mother is Mrs. Lam. We don't know if she is actually a mother, but she takes on the archetypal mother role. She sacrifices her dreams to fit in the role of wife/mother. This sacrifice is greatly felt by Mr. Lam after her death. With these three examples, Alice the forgiving mother, Qunicy's mom the emotional cold, and Mrs. Lam the sacrificial mother it is clear that mothers who are both involved in their child's life while also have space outside their maternal role is the way to prevent hardship in their dependants in MPL.

NurseLaura

FAST PASS SPOILERS Although we know Poppy is not a mother, she does seem to adopt some maternal qualities. Such that she is seen fixing her ex boyfriend meals with cute faces and the way she made Tora a tiger for their dinner. I believe that Tora did not have parental figures in his life, which may have contributed to his involvement in gang life. The only maternal figure we briefly see involved in Tora's life is Alice. Its clear to see he has some sort of endearment towards her, at the very least some respect because she gave him a chance and she was there for him. We have seen that Poppy was seemingly raised by her father, we do not see a maternal presence in her life. This probably led her to become independent and perhaps even take on responsibilities that shaped her into who she is now, a cute squishy yet bold young woman. Furthermore, when her dad died, she was further forced to grow up more quickly. Tora seems in awe of Poppy's outlook in life, its clear he has had many hardships. Poppy's subtle maternal nature can also be a appealing to him in the sense that it is something that he may have always subconsciously craved. The gentle loving nature of a mother. (I do not mean to say he sees her as a mother!🤣) the lack of maternal figures has shaped each character whether pushed them into the criminal life, such as with Tora, or pushed them to become a responsible adult, as with Poppy.

Victoria Dias

*SPOILER WARNING* *Thank you for recovering my post, Lily* First of all, I'm sorry if my English is not 100% correct since it's not my native language. I've seen a few motherly figures throughout the series and have always though about "ok, but who are their parents?" since my family is extremely present in my life, so I compare a lot. We can see that both Poppy and Tora are kind of by themselves. Poppy has/had (idk) her granny, as we saw in Episode 30 and when she mentioned the easel being moldy, but there's no sign of a mother, only her father. This makes me think about some settings: 1) her mother is dead because of natural causes (diseases, pregnancy, frail heart, etc.) or accidents; 2) her mother abandoned her family (betrayal, gang involvement, divorce, work, etc.) or 3) she is alive, but hasn't been mentioned yet. Tora is clearly "alone" in family terms, being Balthuman's member but not seem as family. Alice seems to be the closest motherly figure he has, since she could see her own son's life in Tora's life, so she cares about him that way and tries to help anyway she can, without involving herself that much. I'm quite sure that woman besides Vincent is not Quincey's mother. When she was talking about Tora with V's, seemed like she didn't know Tora that well and we could see that Tora was a little child when he was in the organization. She would have known him since childhood and would have seem his behavior before, no? Well, that's all I have to say here! I'm really close to my mother and seeing these characters without a motherly figure since little is one of the reasons why they are "in the dark" and only has themselves to cling to. Life became like that for them. I love you, mom (who is seated next to me right now lol)!

Liz Z.

My first post ever as a Patreon so I hope it’ll be received openly! Since this is my first I’ll keep it short and focus on just Tora and Granny Alice - though I already know I’ll regret not expanding to other characters as soon as I click “post”. Through what we know from their interaction at her restaurant and the flashback of Tora’s childhood with Alice and her son, I believe it’s clear Alice takes on the mother role with Tora (but to what extent I’m not sure of yet). This comes from what we’ve seen so far: taking Tora in, how both interact with one another, the fact Tora brought sweet Poppy over for dinner, and quick meaningful (and also hilarious) comments she makes. I believe Alice became a vital component in Tora’s adolescence by welcoming him with open arms and without judgement (stemming from the history she has with her own son) even knowing of his involvement with the Balthuman clan and the repercussions he faced and those he will face in the future. It’s quite possible Alice and her restaurant became Tora’s “safe space” because she saw a hurt and scared child hidden beneath hardened layers of abuse geared towards molding a man built and used for fighting, killing, and intimidation. Their interaction with one another when we first meet her at the restaurant proves to be similar between a mother and child. “Cold” Tora melts away in Alice’s presence and it seems as if he lowers his guard. We get a glimpse of Tora’s first genuine smile (those dimples though, am I right?!), she even smacks Tora upside the head with her hand-held fan (and c’mon, what little old lady would willingly pick a fight with him without knowing him well?), and we see her hilarious banter with Tora and Poppy (buy the XL sizes!). Alice teases him, she’s not scared of him, she’s seen him broken physically and emotionally, and understands him on a deeper level knowing his innate desire and fear to connect with others (stray cat analogy). I also believe the fact Tora even brought Poppy over for dinner speaks volumes. Example: Tora could sense how uncomfortable Poppy felt standing outside of the Black Swan restaurant (people eyeing her, mocking her, etc.). Tora has first hand knowledge of how that makes someone feel, so where did he take Poppy? To the once place he knew she wouldn’t be judged. He didn’t even seem to think twice about it. Alice also seems to understand Poppy’s importance to Tora (for unknown reasons to her) for the simple fact he brought her over. Alice’s phone call makes it pretty clear that bringing a girl over is an unheard of event and it’s something to be celebrated (with a bookie of course lol). I also don’t believe Alice ever considered Tora a burden. She takes his temper in stride and continues to be there to offer support but allows him room to make his own decisions and learn from his mistakes. Finally, I think Alice and Poppy’s interaction after Tora walks away serves as an “ah-ha!” moment for Poppy and how she views Tora. Alice makes the statement that Tora isn’t as fragile as he looks (be it sarcasm or not because there’s nothing outwardly fragile about him) asking Poppy if she agrees to which Poppy partly disagrees implying he is in some ways. I like to think of that interaction as a “test” of some sort for Alice to gauge how Poppy views Tora and if she sees the same man she grew to know. To sum it up simply, I think Granny Alice unknowingly and unconventionally - yet willingly - became the mother figure Tora needed in life since there’s no mention yet of Tora’s biological family (only the Balthuman’s as a clan family). There’s so much more I’d love to say about Poppy and Quincy but I’ll leave it at that for now!

Girl Wonder Podcast

When I first saw the prompt, the character that first popped into my head as a maternal figure in the series shocked me at first. She’s young, she’s fashionable, she’s kind, and she’s one of my favorites in Midnight Poppy Land: Erdene. Though they’re around the same age, I feel like we’ve witnessed several instances of Erdene showing some protective, nurturing, motherly instincts towards Poppy. First of all, they have a solid friendship. I adore the scene in episode 14 where Erdene tells Poppy, “Sorry I’m a boney bitch. I’m sure my hugs aren’t that great.” And Poppy responds with, “Well, you're the best boney bitch. You’re boney bitch goals.” I ADORE THEIR FRIENDSHIP. If Erdene was Poppy’s mom, she’d be a cool mom who’s also her daughter’s best friend. I love how she’s there for Poppy. In episode 14, Erdene sees her sitting alone and says, “Alright. ‘Fess up. I know something’s bothering you. What’s going on.” Not all friendships have this element! Not all friends can sense when something’s going on with you and force you to vent, and subsequently feel better. I’ve found that in my friendships in real life, there tends to be somewhat of a maternal instinct. I want to take care of them. I want to make them laugh. I want to listen to their problems. I see these similarities between Poppy and Erdene. In episode 21, Erdene hooks Poppy up with some amazing work clothes. Erdene says, “It took me a while to go through my closet, but I found a few that’ll definitely fit you.” That could also be seen as motherly — she’s taking care of Poppy. There are plenty of daughters in the world who borrow clothes from Mom’s closet. Not only is this sweet, but notice how she gets Poppy. She doesn’t put her in anything that makes her wildly uncomfortable. Erdene knows her well. And she’s encouraging to grow into — or at the very least — represent herself as the strong, persevering woman she is. Overall, Erdene kind of feels like Poppy’s cool, caring, older sister. She’s definitely not trying to be her mother, but the instincts to take care of her “sweet little Poppy” (ep 21) are definitely there. This was fun! Thanks Lily, Emily, and Lola! I love talking about MPL on my podcast, and this prompt (this whole essay idea) is great! ~Jo

TanyaC9

Alice and Tora!! ~Yes I could do others but their relationship dynamic is heart warming! Well to start off let's start with her son, since it looks like he himself was at one point in a gang she could understand Tora better. She knows that his tough exterior is a front, (possibly so he doesn't get hurt.) He's nothing but a cuddle bear and she knows it. She wouldn't let Poppy go up stairs with him if she didn't know for a fact he would never harm her. She was a safe place for Tora when he was younger. The was she teased him and their banter just screams mother and son.(Only because I know when my son brings a girl home I'm gonna tease him.🤣😂) I honestly can't wait to see more interactions with them. I hope he takes Poppy back there!!🥰

Darla (Tora’s THOT)

Link if you prefer to read on Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-g1hqAN5lfs2nNDFhpM95RK77vYpIp_4j8q0L99YV84/edit Alice & Tora So far in MPL, we know nothing of Tora’s background of any biological parental figures; however, Alice, the quintessential granny of the sushi restaurant, is the main source of maternal force for Tora. Chapter 16, introduces our little old lady with Tora, being a smartass and rudely calling Alice over by knocking on the desk as he yells out “Oi Alice!” We see him being smart with her and flashing his beautiful smile to charm his way out of a situation. And then comes Alice with her disciplining fan as she hits him across the head for being a little punk with her. Alice is a dear old lady, but takes no shit from Tora and doesn’t let him get away with his smart ass ways. Tora is used to Yes men around him as they do whatever he wants them to do but not Alice! Alice uses her motherly force to also try to convince Tora of making good choices to impress Poppy on their unexpected date at her restaurant. In Chapter 17, Poppy and Tora are up in Tora’s usual spot as Alice takes their order. “Take ya pick alcohol, alcohol, or alcohol.” Alice is a wise lady and knows Tora is on a date with a pretty young thing, Miss Poppy. She is already making the choice FOR him and wants him and Poppy to drink alcohol to loosen up and enjoy their date and possibly have Tora enjoy himself further along ie. get it in! Tora is being dumb and wanting his usual green tea like a boring ass square! And Alice being the smart methodical woman she is, says it’s no longer on the menu. After Alice annoyingly watched Tora be a brat as he hit his beautiful head on the pipe while Poppy is trying to comfort him, she gives some blunt advice to him, “You brought yourself a fat juicy little lamb and you just want to drink your green tea!?” What are ya a 40 year old virgin!?” Alice is clearly using her motherly ways to drive him in the right direction to maybe have a chance with Poppy but Tora is being stubborn as hell as he lifts her away as she pokes fun at him for calling himself a tiger and yelling back at poppy to get XL condoms! In Ch. 18, we see the flashback of teenage Tora when he walks into Alice’s Restaurant with a broken jaw. Immediately she asks Tora if he cut class again and that she needs him to clean tables. She asserts herself as the authority figure and she gives him the discipline to follow orders in a job. Not only does she provide discipline and structure, but she makes him look at himself in the mirror figuratively. She tells him that he’s like a wounded alley cat that follows people around but won’t let anyone get close to him. She gives him this reflection so he can realize that maybe some people WANT to help him, like her, but he pushes people away or doesn’t give anybody a chance to help him. We then see Tora get angry as he flips one of her tables when she mentioned Balthuman, subsequently she allowed him to get his anger all out, but STILL made Tora know there’s consequences of his reckless behavior like her docking his wages. Alice is kind and understanding but also doesn’t allow Tora to get away with bad behavior the way a mother teaches her son the results of consequences from actions he chose to do. In Ch. 19, we are introduced to Alice’s son Joe, who she says was far worse than Tora at his age. She has Joe talk to Tora in a man to man/ big brother talk since Joe had similar experiences Tora had. Joe hesitates as he thinks Tora is a little shit that hates his guts cause he’s a cop, yet Alice continues her reassurance. Her motherly instinct to be the voice of reason reassures Joe that Tora doesn’t hate him and that he still is listening to him despite being a bratty stubborn teenager. We also see the humble help wanted sign in the restaurant that reads, “you deserve a second chance, believe in yourself.” And “Don’t care if you're an ex con...but if you misbehave my son is gonna kick your ass.” This sign represents Alice’s motherly role at its best. She is the constant force of encouragement in these troublesome boys' lives yet the second sign shows she is also not a force to be messed with because she will implement disciplinary consequences for being disrespectful little shits just like a good mother would do. In Ch. 20 we see the fight/argument Tora and Poppy have after their sushi date after he feels betrayed by Poppy going to Lane. Poppy is left hanging outside the restaurant as Tora storms off angrily after Poppy sees right through his tough guy act. Alice is seen waiting next to Poppy smoking her vape as she tells Poppy to let him go and that so self respecting lady chases after a man. She also gives her wise insight to Poppy saying that Tora is fragile and has his own issues that he needs to deal with himself. Poppy even calls her granny. This shows how Alice is the surrogate granny and surrogate mother to the younger kids she constantly and willingly puts up with. She’s the mother figure that is always there for comfort and tries putting ones mind at ease just like how she made Poppy giggle with her fragile comment and reassured her that Tora is a damaged soul but will come around when he has dealt with his own issues.

kluebcke

*Fast pass spoilers* I think we clearly see Alice as the main mother figure in Tora’s life, such as she is. Her little signs on the wall are telling of many things ideally associated with mothering: forgiveness, but not acceptance of wrongdoing. Due to her not being his actual mother (so I assume…), she’s able to have the sort of distance parents need to create as children grow, that can be difficult to cultivate. Knowing you can’t fix some things is a challenge of parenting. (Once again, so I assume...just a cat mom, here.) And that distance is not the same thing as not caring, as she has her son try to intervene instead, given his shared background with Tora. What are more intriguing, to me, are the subtle maternal lines being drawn between Tora and Poppy. Part of what I see in the episode arc of their dinner are little ways Poppy is showing Tora what it means to be a human, not a destructive weapon. A simple hug, the black-haired rice tiger, the importance of human contact for its own sake, willingness to show fear or worry...to say nothing of the worry she has for Mr. Lam earlier in the story, which is in many ways a manifestation of compassion. So much of motherhood (and fatherhood, obviously) is shaping a child’s worldview and what being a person is, what that means. It’s most likely that was completely absent in Tora’s life, thus why he’s so surprised by it all. It’s why the probable upcoming interaction with the security guard so intriguing: is he learning enough to change at all—become more human than enforcer—even if it’s just around her? Also, Erdene’s concern for Poppy often has maternal undertones. The way she goes to find out what’s been bothering Poppy is telling; more importantly, Erdene encourages her to do something, not to sit and just stew on what’s happening. Whether it’s because he’s older or she just doesn’t like him, it doesn’t look like Erdene interacts with Jacob similarly. That behavior is reserved for Poppy.

Julia G

*No spoilers* The most noticeable thing about MLP in regards to mothers is the fact there are so few. I can pick out four mother figures, Granny Alice who was the mother of Joe Alice and a surrogate mother to Tora, the thug’s mother, Erdene and Poppy’s grandmother. I think Poppy’s grandmother raised her after the death of her father. The fact that Poppy worries what her grandmother would think of her if the photo had gotten out shows that she has a close relationship with her and values her opinion. We’ve seen some glimpses of Poppy with her father but there has been no mention of her mother. In the case of the thug’s mother, her son shows little respect for her. She acts like she has authority over her son but quickly concedes when he gets forceful in asking for information. She is the strictest side of mothering, the parent who makes the child do their homework, clean their room and do their chores. Erdene is the supportive, advice giving mother figure. She listens to Poppy’s troubles and praises how she handling everything that’s happened. She also encourages Poppy to take a chance on Tora while also making sure she is being careful. She makes Poppy laugh and pulls her out of her melancholy mood. It’s the scene of the teenage daughter sulking in her room and mom comes in, give some advice and a hug, makes the daughter laugh and then the daughter feels better. With Granny Alice, we know that she had her son Joe who seemed to be a difficult child. When Tora is throwing things in the shop she mention how Joe was much worse as that age. That past experience seems to make her the perfect surrogate mother for Tora. As a child who grew up the way Tora did, he’d need someone who understood his violent outbursts and could stick by him. Alice recognizes that Tora needs that relief of tension to feel better and lets him break things until he feels better. She doesn’t pass judgement or try to make him stop but also makes him take responsibility by taking the expenses out of his pay. The fact that Tora knows he can go there and do that, that he has that safe place, speaks to the type of bond he shares with Alice. When she knew he was hurting, she knew he needed a man’s influence like a positive role model. She sends Joe to check in Tora, she seems to see Joe in Tora and possibly hopes that Joes influence will help Tora hold onto his “pure soul”. I think her being part of his life is why he’s not like someone like Scharch. Tora held onto the good parts of him we see when he’s with Poppy, the way Vincent raised him didn’t take those things away.

Celeste

*SPOILER WARNINGS* apologies in advance for grammar and spelling. OK here we GO *Cracks knuckles* Maternity is typically viewed and presented as a feminine trait. In Midnight Poppy Land, the theme of motherhood and maternity, and their many different facets are seen throughout the story thus far in many characters, both male and female. Granny Alice, who is ultimately the most extreme maternal figure, displays the open heart that motherhood is known for, a trait that is also shared with the title character Poppylan. Tora, while an extremely masculine figure, shows moments of maternal instinct when he takes care of Poppy. Let’s start with the very strong maternal instincts we see in Granny Alice. She is a character that has decidedly “masculine” traits, such as being rough with her language, gambling, and crude humor, but also shows several key maternal traits as well. She is the embodiment of the phrase, “there ain’t no hood like motherhood”! Firstly, her establishment is littered with employment flyers welcoming anyone under her roof, criminal no criminal. One of the classic tropes of maternal instinct is that “everyone has a home,” and that mother figures will care for and provide for their children, no matter what. Granny Alice is the mother of the street kids, giving Tora a place to make an honest wage despite his involvement with a crime syndicate at a young age. Not only does she provide him work, and the motherly “tough love”, she provides him with a father figure in the form of her only biological son. Her son, a police officer, is foreshadowed to have been an influence on Tora’s life as Tora is shown to have his bracelet and ring as an adult. Granny Alice also gives Poppy sage advice about Tora, seeing right through his tough facade to the injured and insecure man that still dwells within the fearsome Tiger of Ares Street. Mothers have an uncanny way of seeing when their children are hurting, despite the walls they build. Similarly, Poppylan has the uncanny ability to see the good in people, despite admitting that she can be a little judgy with the first impressions. Her first impression of Tora was that he was a pervy thug, but she still placed her trust in him and saw very quickly that behind the awkward and tough exterior was a very complex man. Like any mother, Poppy is willing to dig through the bad to see the good. She even tested her morals keep Tora safe, after he left dinner at her apartment it is shown to the audience that she avoided going to the authorities to keep Tora safe. Mothers are willing to sacrifice anything for their children, sometimes even moral code. Poppy is also seen remaking a photo for Mr. Lamb, despite him leading her on a wild goose chase throughout the city. Like any mother wanting to dry her babies tears, Poppy goes above and beyond to soothe Mr. Lambs broken heart. Lest we forget the pivotal “tiger with hair” rice-ball scene, Poppy finds the little details that only a mother could find. Remember getting notes from mom in the lunchbox? Poppy’s notes come in the form of riceball animals. Small gestures meant to bring joy, her attempt to soothe Tora after a very long and arduous night. Perhaps the most unconventional character to carry maternal instinct is Tora himself. Successfully portrayed as a character with many inner conflicts, it is immediately recognized that Tora is willing to go to great lengths to protect those he cares about. Goliath betrayed Tora, but when Goliath needed help Tora couldn’t ignore his please for help. Mothers take care of their children, even when they’ve done wrong. Similarly, Tora came to Goliath’s rescue despite having been betrayed. Other small instances of Tora’s maternal instinct is his immediate worry for Poppy’s well-being after she fell from the tree and nagging her afterward to see a doctor if anything feels sore or continues to hurt. Sound familiar? Many mothers nag their grown adult children to remember to go to the doctors and are the first ones to make sure their babies are feeling healthy and right as rain. Tora also goes to great lengths to ensure that Poppy is safe and unharmed, even going as far to install a camera in front of her apartment complex (overprotective mom, anyone?) While some may argue that that is more of a paternal instinct, an overprotective father to his daughter, I would argue that this is actually maternal. Traditionally, paternal figures provided food and protection to the women, but it is the mothers who provide protection to the families. Since we’re talking about the Tiger of Ares Street, let’s take a quick look at actual tigers. Female tigers (and many other female species of the animal kingdom) would literally kill to protect their young. Case in point, Tora bashing a lecherous creeps face with a pool stick. Also case in point, have you seen a mom-brawl? Mothers will go to the ends of the earth to protect their children, which includes sneaking into their offices to steal back an accidentally stolen notebook full of gang-related blackmail.

Lizzaye

Alright. Here’s my short take on this (though it’s nothing too specific, I hope it’s not off topic too!): Granny Alice as a Maternal figure for Tora: I think she is like that cool-ass mother who rides a bike to pick you up from school and a friend that could always lean on. It is refreshing to see that Tora lets his guard down in her presence, laughing and giggling and speaking casually with her. Clearly, Granny Alice was able to break down Tora’s heavily guarded walls and his vulnerability shows with his every interaction with her. Granny Alice managed to embarrass Tora, like a mother who enjoys causing “trouble” for their child. Granny Alice was probably there for him at his lowest when he needed her, when he was broken and alone, but her approach was giving him space and not demanding him for an explanation for his actions. She accepted him as what he was and guided him only when necessary. She provides him with a warm place to go back to, like a hearty breakfast waiting for you every morning in the dining room. Most of all, Granny Alice influenced/shaped Tora to what he is now, as least the vulnerable and adorable part of him. I wished I had someone like her:)

Jazz_The_Writer

MIDNIGHT 🕛 TEA ☕️ TIME!!!!! Just wanna say I’m super stoked about this and can’t wait to finish my “Essay” !!!

Lola

So my brain is a bit fried after working these past few days so I apologize for any mistakes in advance, also it’s kind of brief because I can’t seem to manage much more than this. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hopefully it makes sense! 😅. Nature vs Nurture : Alice as a mother figure and her role in Tora’s character development. The debate of nature vs nurture that has been ongoing through the past decades, still permeates our perceptions today. In the MPL universe and in regards to Tora, we may often wonder if he is who he is after having been raised by someone as Vincent Balthuman. We can ask ourselves if the demeanor he has is one that has been forged through the evil machinations of Vincent, and if he has still retained some of his humanity because of who he is intrinsically. As humans, it is easy for us to compartmentalize things and fit them into “boxes” as it helps our understanding of our environments. This, too, can happen when we see an individual, even a 2D one. It is easier to box said person into either nurture or nature, as it can fit our expectations better taking things at face value; it is easier to achieve that based on a person’s outside appearance. Motherhood, on the other hand, whether it be a birth mother or a mother figure, can see beyond this duality. It is the integrative element between both. By combining both nature and nurture and accepting the person as they are, they are making a point that the individual is indivisible. Alice has been the de facto caretaker for Tora since he was a teenager, perhaps even when he was younger. What little information we have of her, it has been underlined how she has cared for him and how she can be considered mother figure in his life. We can also appreciate her own character and how she is able to see past a person’s surface and see the heart. “You deserve a second chance. Believe in yourself” reads the sign in the restaurant, which serves to further drive this point. Alice was able to do this for Tora. By seeing who he was, in his heart of hearts, she was able to both accept him as is, and yet she was also able to shape him and perhaps salvage him. Despite all the angry, moody hormones of teenager Tora, she might have been able to get through you him and nurture the side of him that Vincent tried to snuff out. Alice is quite observant that way. Ever the believer in second chances, Alice also could keenly tell, when it was time to chastise and when it was time to give Tora space. She was able to find the right moment to get through to someone, even if it means not to do the job herself and send someone else (like Joe) to do so. She encouraged both men in that moment. She nurtured Joe’s familial capabilities, and understood at a very deep level, that despite Tora’s mood, he was truly listening. She did the job exceedingly well, and it allowed for room to grow for Tora, hopefully without resentment. By integrating both parts of the individual, beyond the nature and nurture, mothers and mother figures are able to integrate both the physical and emotional. They are able to discern between physical pain, such as Tora’s broken jaw, and distinguish it from the pain of the heart, like when Tora stormed out of the restaurant after the dinner with Poppy. There is no conflict of nature vs nurture in a mother, as she is able to see the individual as a whole. There is no need for “boxes” or compartmentalizing the individual, as the mother is able to join the two and bring up the person with their own brand of care and affection.

Myosotis

Maybe that's weird but mother figures are not necessarly women. And I am just thinking maybe Poppy's father who was kind and true could have been a caregiver for her and be the reason why she likes to take care about people. Tora lacks obviously a mother figure, except Alice, but she might not have always been there his entire life. And actually he likes that Poppy wants to take care of him. Like when she fixes his hair, or when she cooks for him. He sees in her a caregiver he barely never had. And that sweetness she has is the key to their relationship because that's exactly what he deeply wants and what he needs to be complete. Also I just wonder, what is the country they live in? Because mother figures are different among cultures. PS: what is really interesting is that Tora's mother figure might be a grandmother (Alice) and Poppy was possibly raised partially by her grand mother. Which might have an impact on their psyche cause grandmothers have different caregiving traits than mothers do

Myosotis

Also I wanted to thank u Lily for letting us speculating on your story, which is so amazing !!!

BlueCaty

*Spoiler warnings* About the mothers that we wish we knew. Poppy, Tora and Quincey seem to be adults orphaned of a mother. I think it is in the human nature to seek the natural comfort and solace only a mother is able to provide so I can see them all searching unknowingly this comfort in other people. Although Quincey’s story is not very clear, the fact that he is a gentle human being, although self-centered at times points to him having a motherly figure (either his own mother or a nanny of sorts as a child), somebody who taught him kindness. Also the fact that his kindness only goes until his comfort ends makes me think that maybe he did not have had his mother long enough so that his education on empathy could be complete. The fact that he is estranged from his own father speaks volumes about their different views of the world. As for finding the mother in other people, I think Quincey just tries to find her within himself, by being the son a mother could wish for. Tora is a tormented soul, one without parents and pushed into a twisted „family”. His kindness though comes from Alice and Joe, who helped him through younger years. The fact that Tora lets his guard down in Alice’s restaurant, that he is so familiar with Alice and her way of smacking him in the head just shows that she was the substitute of a mother for him. He even throws tantrums (funny as hell considering his age) and also Alice refers to him as a child. I felt so deeply her sorrow when she said „child, child, there you go givin’your hear away again”. She cares for him and daresay helps him in the only way she can: by being his safe space, safe enough to bring a girl there, to bring THE girl there. Wich leads me to Poppy. She has some motherly features in her relationship with Tora so far. Her tenderness when she encourages him to say „you’re welcome”, her calling him straight to the face „don’t be a jerk”, her cooking for him worrying that he has enough to eat (I feel that with my kids haha)... I’m not saying he sees her as a mother, after all she is all boobs and bubble butt and he is just a man, but the comfort she brings him is similar to the one offered by a mother. After all could it be that all the men in this world are searching for their own ancestral mothers in their wifes? Poppy grew up without a mother figure as well. As far as we know. Well, maybe her granny played a role somewhere... Nevertheless she was left without her dad at an early age, so there is some maturity to achieve there, some struggle to navigate the way of the world. Without the support of a family, she relies on herself, sometimes carrying other people’s weight on her shoulders, trying to help everyone at the office, to keep Tora safe, to save mr. Lam, to reach the expectations of her boss. I think the need of a mother/father and their lack in her life makes her strive for the comfort of other’s approval and friendship, to fill a void maybe? She is vulnerable and this vulnerability is the string that ties her and Tora together, because he feels it too, underneath the muscles and stern glares and he recognizes this feeling in Poppy. This triggers his maternal side (yes, he has one), the protective one – the side that makes him treat her gentle, getting her in a safe space where she is not mocked (at Alice’s, after he saw the looks of well dressed people witnessing her unappropriate attire at the Black Swan restaurant), wishing her a better life than his own (get back to the shadows where you came from and out of her life). So there you have it, three characters, three absent mothers and the continuous search for love and comfort we humans so desperately need.

Emily Basso

Hello all! My essay entry got a little wordy… So I decided to share it in a google doc link instead. Here is the first paragraph of it, explaining my angle, and you can pull up the whole thing with the link at the bottom. Hope everyone enjoys my odd little trip down a spiritual rabbithole 😅 I can’t wait to catch up on everyone’s essays! Here ya go: I have been on a supernatural kick recently, and as a result, my brain took a slightly broader view of this essay prompt, and I used a bit of creative liberty when writing this post. I had been rereading a favorite book of mine, and was reminded of the concept of The Triple Goddess: The maiden, the mother, and the crone. For those who have not heard of this, The Triple Goddess symbolizes the three aspects of femininity and the different stages of a women’s Lifecyle. Now, this is a narrow box to fit women into, and I want to start by saying this comparison is simply for fun (like horoscopes) and that I don’t think it’s applicable to everyone. But for the purposes of this essay, I think the theory of the maiden, the mother, and the crone help describe three of the most influential women we’ve seen in Midnight Poppy Land so far: Erdene, Poppy, and Alice. Essay #1: https://docs.google.com/document/d/182u1QCiYxK-m3rXViPrnyvGfVxFZoPgZAmrPSpTxVxc/edit?usp=sharing

Tiffanyyyyy B

Thanks so much Emily & Lola for kickstarting this. I'm indirectly able to experience so much more content. & thanks so much to Lily for allowing us to analyze your characters. I'm sure it adds to the pressure a bit because we are flying wild with the ideas and really digging into the story. I appreciate all the work you ladies do. & I appreciate everyone & their ideas here. I can't delve in too deep myself because of time constraints but reading this just gets my brain going! I love it 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Myosotis

I have a question ! What country are they supposed to live in? I'll make some sociology research on mother figures

Kathleen

**** Fast Pass Spoiler Warnings**** So far we have met two confirmed mothers (by met I mean more than one dedicated panel with speech), Granny Alice and an unnamed mother of a street thug who has a thing for the stripper Candy. Both mothers have sons and own restaurants, mothers in all cultures are constantly feeding their loved ones, children, and various strays. But this is where the similarities end. The street thug’s mother lacks a respectful relationship with her son, even the art is gray toned and lacking the same warmth we see in Alice’s restaurant. When we first met Granny Alice she reminded me so much of the wise sage [One of my favorite panels is following Alice asking Poppy if she thinks Tora is fragile, after admitting “maybe a little” Poppy laughs and Granny smiles (as though to say smart girl.] Granny Alice is the strongest maternal figure in MPL as well as a non-traditional mother. Granny Alice holds people accountable, accepts their flaws, and dowels out second chances as needed. She is also a gambler and pretty blunt (“no one cares about your slogan Fred”). Unlike the other mother, Granny Alice has a loving relationship with her son, Joseph “Pokerbaby”. The relationship between Joe and his mother is strongly mimicked in her relationship with Tora. She leaves Joe to talk to a wounded Tora, calling him “sucker” clearly she likes to tease her boys ("and you call yourself a tiger"). The lessons Alice and her son passed to Tora are demonstrated time and again. For instance, when Joe goes to talk “man to man” with Tora he calls him a punk and hands him money to take care of himself. Time and again we see Tora feed Poppy and give her money (honestly, this feels more paternal, but we know so little of the Alice family backstory it is possible for so much maternal/paternal crossover because so many characters are pulling “double duty”). Part of the reason I wanted to highlight the other mother is actually Goliath. We know Goliath had worked for the other mother, what if Tora and Goliath had worked at different restaurants? I have my own theory, that given their resembles Tora and Goliath are biological brothers- I think this is why Tora was willing to drive hours outside of the city for a man (in a different clan) who most likely double crossed him at some point. I theorize that Tora was raised (or more accurately trained) by Vincent Balthumane more so than a stable home life, so I am not expecting Goliath and Tora to have been raised together; BUT the Alice family may have set the positive example Tora needed- and that truly spoke to his “pure heart”. How different would Tora be if he hadn't found Granny Alice and instead been employed for someone like the other mother. In ep 5 we learn that Tora is being punished (in an underground cage no less) for trying to escape (he is told if he tries again he knows what will happen). Everything about Tora screams he doesn’t actually want to be part of a clan (Sorry Mr. Financial Advisor I don’t think you and Tora have the same rank because Tora is lazy, I think Tora has just given up trying to leave the Clan life), but Goliath moved from Clan to Clan climbing ranks. Tora is very loyal (although I don’t think that extends to Vincent, just to the people he truly cares about) and I strongly suspect that the sign “If you misbehave my son will kick you a$$” still hangs in the restaurant and if Alice needs someone Tora would show up in Joe’s place. We have met several strong father figures and the lack of obvious mothers. Too often fathers are lacking representation, but MPL turns that on its head. Fathers play such an impactful role in this series (Vincent raising Quincy/Tora, Erdene mentions her dad’s connections, and of course Papa Wilkis). At this point we know very little about the main characters mothers. Regardless, we can see traditional maternal characteristics woven into each characters personality.

AndySaro

Not an entry, just wanted to say I love reading the perspective and depth given when analyzing the characters in these essays, it really brings them to life. For anyone who is going to be writing an entry there is a reference to Poppy's mother in episode 17. Where Poppy mentions she was so accident prone her mother made her wear a helmet. (I just happen to be reading that episode today) Hope that it is useful to someone's analysis. I'm curious to see how people interpret that.

AndySaro

Thanks for the thoughts guys! My theory is that since Poppy remembers her deceased father so fondly he was clearly a big part of her life, doesn't seem to be the same with her mom. Therefore, I think her mother either died when she was a small child or remarried and moved abroad. In that case, when her dad passed away she didn't want to be uprooted and stayed with grandma. In either case Poppy's mom wasn't there as long so the connection is not as deep.

Jazz_The_Writer

Midnight TeaTime ! MPL Essay So far in my journey reading MPL I’ve become so completely enveloped in who Tora is and -side note I’m totally wrapped around that boy's finger! I came from AB comics so I’m completely in love with the fact that tora is a descendant of Ulaan!!!- okay onto my “essay” Granny Alice is the sweetest. It seems like she is not only a maternal force for Tora but a little bit for Poppy as well. In ch.20 Granny Alice came in fast to stop poppy from running after Tora and although I would've liked to have seen how that would have made Tora feel about poppy… Granny was RIGHT AND TO QUOTE THE WISEST FLOOPING WORKS I'VE EVER READ! ‘IF HE WANTS YOU, HE CAN COME GET YOU HIMSELF. NO SELF-RESPECTING LADY CHASES AFTER A MAN. NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A HANDSOME DEVIL HE MAY BE’ !!!!! let that sink in a moment… cause I know I needed a moment with that. I also feel like Poppy took quite a liking to Granny Alice...more than she let on - author please correct me if i'm wrong, please! But I think Poppy adores Granny anyway that's how I feel about ch.20… on to the rest! HOLYFRIJOLIS ! Although Tora doesn’t show much emotions I know he Loves Granny in his own way. Granny cares for him so much though, I like to think she expresses that Love through vulgarity and violence..just like she was with Joe, who happens to be the next maternal force I’m going to talk about. Hmmmm…. What to start with, how about the beginning, okay so our first look into Tora’s past is when Quin’s Dad, Mr. Balthuman was being a total a-hole to my baby boy Tora. I get that’s how Tora has basically built up this invisible ice wall. What I wonder about most is after we see our poor baby boy Tora crying in the dark is whether or not he ever told Joe about anything. I mean we understand that Joe meant, and I mean really meant something to Tora, the boy keeps Joe’s ring and bracelet on him 24/7 and these thoughts only pester me more as I connect -in my opinion- all the invisible lines. In ch.18 Granny starts a narrative that in a sense recounts a kind of fond memory with Joe and Tora. Her entire narration leads me into a theory now, honestly this is probably where my “essay” becomes a “what-if-say” Joe was important to Tora, from what I can understand by the way granny apologises to Joe’s picture and Tora keeping his things is that Joe is gone. That being said here comes my theory, bear with me. By now you can probably stop reading if you don't want to hear me out..so what-if-say Tora doesn't know who ended Joe, okay? Now let’s say that Granny is speaking about Tora in the present tense in ch.19’s narration -which is what I’m understanding-. Tora continues to spend his life “in fear, confusion...and false promises of hope” it just makes me feel that Tora still doesn’t know how bad the balthuman family is, he knows how bad they can be, but let’s say Quin’s Dad Mr. Balthuman for some reason had decided to end Joe? ...what-if-say Tora got too hopeful with Joe around and Quin’s Dad wouldn’t want his “Loyal Dog” (btw it P’d Me TF off when he called Tora a dog) to go soft or be crippled by Joe’s kindness? I believe Joe had enough time with Tora anyway and I also feel like he might’ve given him some type of relationship advice otherwise I’d think Tora wouldn’t be acting the tender, and kind way he does with poppy. Mr. Balthuman is TOXIC AND MANIPULATIVE. The way Tora reacts when Mr. Balthuman tells him to stop smoking for his health only makes me think that Tora does it only to get back at him-or maybe he just likes smoking with it being addicting and all, though the way he stubs his cigarette out so fast when he's with Poppy makes me believe otherwise- since he might want out of the clan. Now that I got all that out let's look at our sleuthy girl Poppy! My theory is that she finds something out about Joe’s death, maybe some sort of foul play. What-if-say Mr. Balthuman paid off some dirty cop or thug to kill Joe?- ooooooohhhhhhh just thought of something worse what if he made Tora watch!!!!!! Aghhhhh help me i can’t stop thinking of the horrible things that could’ve happened to our sweet boy Tora….*distant crying in multiple languages*- I can’t say how Tora would react but this is just kind of a working theory, since I haven’t finished reading the story yet -don't even have a fast pass * more distant crying*- but I do love it very much thank you so much for sharing your talent with us Lilly !!! also if you read this to the end THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME OUT ! I think I’ll end the rant here, thanks for reading my “essay”

Jazz_The_Writer

oml i did it i commented my "essay" *pterodactyl screech*

Lola

Posting on behalf of RachelsSanctuary: The absence of known maternal figures in Midnight Poppy Land brings together multiple character's life perspectives into the same world. The dangerous epicenter of Narin City, Ares Street, plays a crucial role in the formation of its residents, especially its younger ones who may lack stable parental roles. As readers, we observe Granny Alice's positive influence in young Tora's life and consider her to be a maternal figure for both Tora and her adult son, Joe. However, the lack of information on Tora's biological family and the age in which we see him with Granny Alice for the first time implies that she is more of a role model than a mother figure. At first glance, Granny isn't dismayed by Tora's aggressive outbursts as she herself admits to have endured much worse with her own son in the past. She's well aware of Tora's connection with The Balthuman Organization, yet she makes no attempt to "mother" him in a way she knows he wouldn't respond to. Granny Alice gives Tora the space he needs to channel so much pent up frustration, albeit with a friendly warning that there will be consequences to his physical actions. Through her son, Alice is able to reach the part of Tora that is closed off to the rest of the world, forging a bond that strengthens after Joe's death. Without us knowing of his origins, Tora's relationship with Quincey is an example of how protective he can be of the few important people in his life. Tora, in a way, unconsciously projects himself as a parental figure to compensate for the lack of love in his upbringing. At the core of Narin City are vicious criminals that create and destroy lives as they please. Tora is partly a product of his environment, and the sad end of acquaintances he's seen become corrupt, greatly influences what he believes in as a person. Poppy is a literal stranger to Narin City, but she falls back on the teachings and love of her family to guide her through rough times. Her parents may no longer be present in her life, but she remembers them fondly, as evidenced in her memories and in the conversation with Mr. Lam. Poppy's most striking qualities are her determination, perseverance and the innate ability to cheer others up--a demonstration of affection that is completely foreign to someone like Tora. He may not know how to react, but it keeps him coming back to her because he doesn't know how much he needs it. Maternal figures may be scarce, the wounds left behind by their disappearance is abysmal. Yet, role models like Granny Alice and absolute motherly influences like Poppy's grandmother teach us that the characters in Midnight Poppy Land are resilient despite their circumstances. Poppy, Tora, and even Quincey are examples that growth and maturity are possible even in adverse situations.

Kimberley Knight

I absolutely love this idea and think it is great that you are encouraging interaction with your content. Very cool. I have enjoyed reading the comments/essays and while I don't have one of my own to post this time, I fully support the concept and look forward to posting some thoughts of my own some time. Rock on. :)

Darla (Tora’s THOT)

Total sweet dweeb! Omg love that so much!!! And tantrum boy!! LOLLL soooo stinking cute! Yes she is sooo patient with him which is wonderful! She is slowly chipping away at his shell!