The Artist

Lori Walls is seen throughout the novel as a quiet, introverted girl who lives her life through books. "Lori was the most obsessive reader." She kept to herself but, like the other children, she stood up for her siblings. Lori is the closest to their mother. She even steps in as the parent in many situations. She had a lot of responsibility when her parents were elsewhere or just didn't care. Even as an adult Lori has much responsibility having to take care of her sister, Maureen, and her parents. Lori grows to be a more successful artist than her mother. She shows that nature can overcome nurture when she has the courage to leave Welch.