Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Character Analysis in An Abundance of Katherines

Mrs. Singleton is Colin’s mother. She is less focused on holding her son to lofty expectations than Mr. Singleton is, but she also sets an impossible goal post for Colin by referring to him constantly as “special.” She thinks she is paying him a compliment, but really she makes him feel as though he will never quite live up to how “special” she thinks he will become one day.

Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Quotes in An Abundance of Katherines

The An Abundance of Katherines quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother or refer to Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Prodigies can very quickly learn what other people have already figured out; geniuses discover that which no one has ever previously discovered. Prodigies learn; geniuses do. The vast majority of child prodigies don’t become adult geniuses. Colin was almost certain that he was among that unfortunate majority.

Related Characters: Colin Singleton, Mr. Singleton / Colin’s Father, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother

Related Symbols: “Eureka” Moments

Page Number and Citation: 10

Explanation and Analysis:

Colin’s parents and teachers have told him regularly, from a very young age, that he is a child prodigy. Colin has just graduated high school when the novel begins, which to him feels like the line between childhood and early adulthood; consequently, he feels he no longer has claim to the title of “child” prodigy. Colin thinks of “genius” as the natural successor to the child prodigy identifier. However, he has read about child prodigies and is aware that most of them do not become remarkable adults, let alone geniuses. Colin feels enormous pressure to have a “Eureka” moment, which Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adi

You’re a very special person. Colin would hear this a lot, and yet – somehow – he could never hear it enough.

Related Characters: Colin Singleton, Mr. Singleton / Colin’s Father, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother

Related Symbols: The Hole in Colin’s Gut

Page Number and Citation: 18

Explanation and Analysis:

In the midst of a flashback about how Colin first earned the moniker of child prodigy, he recalls being tested by a psychologist and how she called him special. From then on, Colin’s parents (especially his mother) frequently insisted that Colin was special. While Colin associates his depression with his romantic life, the narrator represents Colin’s diagnosis as “special” as “The Beginning of the Beginning” of his story. Were Colin never to have been told that he is unique, he would never have felt the enormous pressure he feels to distinguish himself as such. The fact that Colin has frequently Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis

His single consolation was that one day, he would matter. He’d be famous. And none of them ever would. That’s why, his mom said, they made fun of him in the first place. “They’re just jealous,” she said. But Colin knew better. They weren’t jealous. He just wasn’t likable. Sometimes it’s that simple.

Related Characters: Colin Singleton, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

During Colin’s flashback to “The Beginning of the Beginning,” he recalls being bullied at school. Colin’s mother, who often calls him “special,” insists that the other kids are taking out their jealousy on Colin by beating him up. Colin thinks he is wiser than his mother in assuming that the other kids are not jealous—they simply don’t want to be his friend. On the surface, Colin’s assumption seems to downplay the idea that he is more special than his peers. However, he still feels he is destined for greatness and fame that the others will never achieve. In fact, he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusand

Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Character Timeline in An Abundance of Katherines

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother appears in An Abundance of Katherines. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...streets when he discovered the phenomenon of water displacement. At the time, Colin asked his mother if he would ever have a “Eureka” moment. She assured him he would. The narrator... (full context)

Colin asks for a day before discussing plans. His mother tells him that of course he can have a day and reassures him that he... (full context)

...this psychologist’s office, Colin made his first anagram while he overheard the psychologist telling his mother that his quick information processing should be encouraged, but that it does not make him... (full context)

Colin eventually enrolled in first grade at the school where his mother taught. He was only a year younger than the other students in his class. Colin’s... (full context)

From the Hardee’s parking lot at the exit, Colin calls his mother. He asks if “anyone” called, and his mom tells him sorry and that she’ll tell... (full context)

...years in Chicago, but his father cuts him off by handing the phone to Colin’s mother. At her prompting, Colin tells her he is marginally happier than when he left. She... (full context)

...you” or “I love you.” The moment was interrupted by a phone call from Colin’s mother, but “by then it was too late. In his mind, Katherine I was already becoming... (full context)

Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Character Analysis

Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Quotes in An Abundance of Katherines

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 3 Quotes

Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Character Timeline in An Abundance of Katherines