mother-in-law
A mother-in-law is the critic who enters the grand play called marriage in a starring role. Behind her smile lies a strict censor wielding standards for domestic order. Her well-intended advice often transforms into an indistinguishable work of art—praise or oppression. She stands on the fine line between a family's desire for comfort and her mission to uphold conventions. Ultimately, she performs a dual act of discipline and affection that unsettles her audience—her in-laws.