In the novel, My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin
Oliveira, Marry Sutter’s younger brother, Christian Sutter is the best male
character so far. During the Civil War era, men were so different from men
today. They were always the head of the house, and were usually off fighting
wars or working. They had many rights that the women did not. Therefore, they
controlled women. According to the stereotypes of that era, a man would act so
“manly” to show his manliness, and would not sit home taking care of their
wives. They were so powerful but, less sensitive and less caring.
Christian Sutter
contradicts the stereotypes of men of his era in many ways. When Mary asks
Christian to carry Bonnie upstairs to the room, he, without thinking about his
own joy, agrees to go help her. Therefore, we can say that he is sympathetic. Then,
when Mary tells him that he can go downstairs and spend some time with his
family since it is his last night with his family, he does not because the
death of Bonnie’s child and Bonnie’s condition were so heart breaking for him. He
felt so sad and didn’t want to leave Bonnie. After a while, when Bonnie falls
asleep, he tries to shift her so that she can sleep comfortably. While doing
that, he is “as careful as a mother with a child” (Oliveira 73). This shows that
Christian is very sensitive and caring. This quote, “For how could she, when a
man like Christian Sutter existed in the world?”(Oliveira 76), shows that he is
the type of guy that Bonnie would like, and he is probably an ideal guy for most
of the women.
