The Character and Nature of Molly Grue
In the novel, The last Unicorn. we are introduced to a character named Molly Grue.
Through chapters' five and six she goes through many changes. Molly goes from being an
outwardly crude woman to a soft, kind-hearted lady. Molly is a caring person. She is
faithful to the band of men. Molly is encouraging and hopeful. These three qualities of
Molly Grue will be further discussed in the essay. These three qualities prove to be a
great help in finishing the quest.
When we first meet Molly Grue, she is a very old, crude, and rugged woman. The book
describes Molly as being a "thin thorn of a woman" (Beagle 56), with a "pale, bony face
with fierce tawny eyes and, hair the color of dead grass." (Beagle 56) She also has
"sharp shoulders" (Beagle 57) and "horny knuckles." (Beagle 57) From these descriptions
the picture we get is that of an old woman, who is unsophisticated, and has worked
herself to the bones. You would probably think that Molly isn't a nice person. Molly is
a nice person, because underneath all that skin is a woman who has compassion. Molly
cooks and cares for a band of loud, crude, adventurous men, otherwise known outlaws.
Molly is extremely faithful to these men because she could leave at any time but she
didn't. She stuck with them and served their every need. She feels so loyal to them
that even though she complains she will still do the job. Molly has been with these men
for such a long time that she has picked up some of their bad habits, and she acts like
a man. Still she changed to fit in, and is still faithful to the men. When Schmendrick
told the band of men how he got to their camp, "She spat on the ground." (Beagle 56)
This helps us picture the rugged type of person she is, yet Captain Cully himself says
that because of her environment, it is only natural that Molly was "suspicious, pinched,
dour, prematurely old, even a touch tyrannical." (Beagle57) Although Molly has few bad
qualities, she is still faithful to the men and Captain Cully says, "She's a good heart,
a good heart." (Beagle 57) Even captain Cully knows that she is serving them because she
is faithful.
Molly was an important part of the story. She was encouraging and hopeful of others
to succeed. Molly Grue was always hopeful and jovial. Molly never had second thoughts
about what she was doing and why she was doing it. She always stayed focused to the
quest and she never had negative suggestions. Molly Grue had encouraged Schmendrick with
his problems with magic. She said, "You have all the power you need, if you dare to look
for it." (Beagle 99) She encouraged Schmendrick to the point that he saved the unicorn
from the red bull. Molly could have just called him a fool, but she didn't. She
believed in him all the way through to the end. Molly also encouraged Prince Lir. She
told him "Lady Amalthea is not won by great deeds." (Beagle 129) Molly encourages Prince
Lir, not to give up. She could have said it's not my problem but she didn't. These
examples show that Molly is an encouraging person who is hopeful of everyone and wants
people to succeed not falter.
Molly had shown an even stronger quality in her. That special quality that Molly
developed was that she was a caring individual. She would always put someone else's
problems before hers. She had cared dearly for Captain Cully and his men. Molly had
cared for the unicorn. Molly said, "He'll drive her to Haggard, and no one will ever see
her again, no one." (Beagle ) Molly was showing great affection towards the unicorn
because she cared about her. The unicorn had been turned into a human being and Molly
said, '"Oh, what have you done?"' (Beagle 102) and, regardless of any danger, Molly ran
out to the unicorn. Molly cared so much for the unicorn that she didn't care what was
around her. She just had to get to the unicorn to help. She put the unicorn's problem
before her own. That is what a true person will do if they really care. Another example
of how Molly is a caring person was when they were at the castle, and in order for Molly
to stay she had to do a lot of work. King Haggard, "paused, seemingly waiting for Molly
to protest, but she didn't." (Beagle 124) Molly cared so much for the unicorn that she
never complained. She would do anything to help. Another example was when the group
went through the clock. Molly was wondering what happened to Schmendrick. "Molly, broke
in--much to her own surprise--crying." (Beagle 173). Molly said "'Never mind all that!
Where's Schmendrick?" (Beagle 173) Molly truly cared for Schmendrick to the point that
she fell in love with him. From these examples, Molly is truly a caring individual that
always help someone.
As you can see, Molly is truly a person who is caring, faithful; and always
encouraging and hopeful individual. I clearly proved with examples how each quality was
truly real. Everything from serving the band of men, that proved she was faithful, to
encouraging Prince Lir when he was discouraged. She was always caring for someone. All
these examples easily prove that Molly Grue is a kind, caring person who is faithful and
is encouraging. She never had discouraged anyone or even put them down. She was always
right their to help.
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