Hats off to Mary Bailey!

When I first saw the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, like everyone else, I was touched by the story’s moral was everyone has a purpose in life. If one person in your life was missing, it would make a huge impact on the future.

However, that’s not the only lesson I learned after watching this movie.   As we know, George Bailey is the main character. James Stewart played the part well—he was very human and we empathized with him on his ups and downs of life.  However, there is another character that I found to be as good a role model if not better than George’s Everyman. This was his wife Mary Bailey played by Donna Reed with quiet dignity and presence.  I searched the internet and found I wasn't the only one that appreciates Mary Bailey.

From the beginning, Mary was a plucky (hey, that’s a word you don’t hear every day!), determined and resourceful person. She became the main component on transforming a rundown house into their cozy family home.  She was the one that was able to defuse the situation when George got annoyed with the children after his bank’s money went missing. When George went to the bridge with the intention to jump, it was Mary who went to all of George’s family and friends for their financial help to get him out of the terrible bind.

In a clever way, the director Frank Capra was demonstrating another lesson--there is always another method to go about solving a problem without being so drastic.  

At the end of the movie, we see that George absolutely adores Mary, showing more realistic affection than the typical movies of that era.  I say yes, he should love her—she is a remarkable woman.