Morally Gray Mothers in Fiction
In the world of storytelling, there’s something undeniably captivating about morally gray characters. These are the characters who exist in the messy in-between—neither fully good nor entirely bad. They challenge us, frustrate us, and, most importantly, make us think. As a writer, I find myself drawn to these complex figures. I am especially interested in mothers who are riddled with guilt. Mothers who have feelings of inadequacy. Most of my stories explore complex mother-daughter relationships.
Check out this post on morally gray characters and how to write them.
Why mothers, you ask? Because motherhood, in all its beauty and complexity, is often viewed through an unrealistic lens of perfection. Society tends to place mothers on a pedestal, expecting them to embody selflessness, strength, and unwavering love at all times. But what happens when a mother falters? When she feels like she’s not enough? When guilt becomes her constant companion?
I’ve been hurt by my own mother. She was the adult who held that role in my life. I always wondered why. Then I became a mother and realized that not everything is black and white. There is more nuanced to that. So in my curiosity I have leaned into exploring this conundrum through the safety of fictional stories.
These are the questions I love to explore in my stories.
Take Marisol Espinal’s mother in The Ordinary Bruja as an example. While she doesn’t take center stage in the narrative, her presence—or absence—shapes Marisol’s journey in profound ways. Her mother’s choices, her secrets, and her silence about their ancestral history all originate from imperfection. They stem from a place of guilt. She loved deeply but made mistakes. She carried the weight of her own trauma while trying to shield her daughter from it. Was she right? Was she wrong? The answer isn’t black and white—and that’s the point.
For me, writing these kinds of mothers is not just about creating tension or drama. It’s about reflecting real-life complexities. Many of us have complicated relationships with our mothers or as mothers ourselves. I know I do. We carry guilt, shame, and the nagging feeling that we’re not doing enough. But through these characters, I aim to offer a mirror and, perhaps, a bit of solace.
Morally gray mothers remind us that love can coexist with flaws. That guilt doesn’t erase care. And that being human means making mistakes—sometimes big ones.
In the end, these characters resonate because they feel real. They challenge readers to confront their own biases, to empathize with the imperfect, and to see beauty in the broken.
So, here’s to the morally gray, guilt-ridden, and imperfect mothers. They may not be perfect, but they are powerful. And their stories deserve to be told.
What are your thoughts on morally gray characters? Do you find yourself drawn to their complexities, too? Let’s chat in the comments!
Want to get to know these morally gray characters? Preorder The Ordinary Bruja
The Ordinary Bruja: Book One of Las Cerradoras Series – Johanny Ortega
Marisol Espinal has spent her life trying to disappear from her family’s whispers of magic, from the shame of not belonging, from the truth she refuses to face. She’s always wanted to be someone else: confident, capable, extraordinary.
But when strange visions, flickering shadows, and warnings written in her mother’s hand begin to stalk her, Marisol is forced to confront her deepest fear: what if she isn’t extraordinary at all? What if she’s painfully ordinary?
Yet Hallowthorn Hill doesn’t call to just anyone. And the more Marisol resists, the stronger its pull becomes. The past she’s buried claws its way back, and something in the mist is watching—waiting for her to remember.
If Marisol cannot face the truth about who she is and where she comes from, the same darkness that destroyed her ancestors will claim her, too.
Somewhere in the shadows, something knows her name.
And it’s time for Marisol to learn why.
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