This story bears striking resemblance to a mythic story about king Solomon who once heard a court case from his throne about two mothers feuding about a child. As in that story, Charlotte and Delia are each evoked to action by their feelings of motherhood for young Tina, so, where is the blade? Solomon encouraged the women in his court to split the child in half, so how is Tina split in half by their feud?
The answer comes in the subtle detail that Tina is going to have her wedding night ruined by these women telling her that her entire life and identity was predicated on a misunderstanding at best, or worst case scenario, perhaps she just sees it for what it is: Women both enjoying their silent roles without accepting true responsibility for their actions.
But it is not that simple. Before the reader can blame this misfortune on Charlotte and Delia, the reader must first discern whether they are also the victims of some systematic issue that prevented Tina from having a normal life. The fact that they work in an orphanage is proof that there is such a systemic issue, and the symbolic detail of feeling like the unofficial mother in the orphanage is explored practically through Tina's real character.
