The Bunner Sisters- Chelsea Estes

While finishing the novel,The Bunner Sisters, there was a particular passage that stuck out to me because this particular quote shows the first time Ann Eliza's walls of being independent coming down. "Ann Eliza, having so far abdicated her independence, sank into sudden apathy. As far as she could remember, it was the first time in her life that she had been taken care of instead of taking care, and there was a momentary relief in the surrender" (Wharton 339). This quote shows that giving up her role of caretaker was taken away from her for a moment, as well as part of her identity. She was so helpless and ill and it almost was a relief to give up her  role as care taker and for once, be taken care of. Ann Eliza's role of being independent is a main characteristic that she posses, which contributes to her as being a New Woman. However even a New Woman has times of weakness. Although we see Ann Eliza as being the backbone for the Sisters, what do you think would happen if she did not take on the "motherly" role?