Wendy Appleton
Wendy Appleton is the mother of Stephen Appleton, one of the main characters in Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. She is a kind woman, although that is often hard to tell due to her stern, outspoken persona. The time spent with her grants insight into how she views her family and her town. Being the only person bold enough to say whatever she is thinking to absolutely anyone, including father Jeremy, she is both respected and sort of feared.
Very few people exhibit even a modicum of attitude towards this woman. In fact, the only two in the game are her own son and Meg who runs a supply store. It’s from these two that you get a glimpse of Wendy’s controlling nature. But she isn’t all bad. She tries to control because she cares deeply for her family and friends, even if that does make her seem like a horrible person at times.
She abhors Kate, Stephen’s wife, and she is never unwilling to share her sentiment. During one scene, her friend assumes it is because Kate isn’t white, but Wendy is quick to point out that it has nothing to do with the woman’s color but rather what she stands for. She is an American and she is bringing all of this science to her small town. This is something Wendy is not alone on, with most individuals in the town ostracizing her son’s wife for one reason or another. There are even flyers hung about town condemning the expansion of the observatory that she works at.
But, in the end, all Wendy wanted was for her son to be happy. Whether that be with his wife, something she is finally willing to accept, or with his mistress. Just as long as he does what is right, then she can be at peace. She meets her end as she calls for her son, the one she’s pushed away.
