The parents have both lived difficult lives and there is no wonder why they struggle now. Her mother, Pauline, has a lame foot so she is constantly limping. She watches romantic love movies, but then tells herself that she will never be like those people because they are beautiful and you can only be loved if you are beautiful. Pauline works as a cleaning lady in a white ladies house. She spends most of her day there admiring how beautiful every room is and it reminds her of how much she dislikes her own home. Pecola’s father, Cholly, was raised by his great aunt once both of his parents deserted him. She later passed away when Cholly moved into his teenaged years. Cholly eventually found his father, but he did not want anything to do with Cholly. He was mortified when two white men found him having sex for the first time. The men made him keep going as they watched this cruel act. When Cholly and Pauline met, he was a crazy heartless man who seems to have no will to live