Do you think each of the mothers in this book represents her particular generation? What about them is
specific to the environment in which they grew up?

I definitely think that each mother in this book represents her particular generation. Violet is of a generation when both the horizons of the country were physically and economically expanding, while at the same time there were very rigid ideas about what constituted proper parenting. Because Violet's mother could not meet these standards, she felt compelled to turn over her daughter to those who thought they could do it better.
Violet's daughter, Iris is also, I think very representative of her generation because she fully embraces the role of a suburban wife and mother, even though she is never really certain if this is the role she wants. Only later, when it is almost too late, does she take the time to consider whether the life she lived was the life she would have chosen.
Sam, on the other hand, has been given the freedom, both by the expanded notion of what a woman's role should be and by a husband who is able to support her, to take whatever path she chooses, either to focus primarily on her role as a mother or return to the avocation which had been important to her prior to her pregnancy.

I absolutely agree with the views of elizabethm that the times molded these three women. I am not sure they are necessarily representive of the generations as a whole though. There were and are many women in each of the generations who act and acted in ways that were totally different from these women according to their circumstances and personalities. But there is no denying we are who we are because of the times we live in and those changes do make us different from our mothers and grandmothers.

I think the generation played a role but their location was a major factor for Violet. NYC was drastically different than Stoughton, WI. You could not be a child in NYC; it was about survival. In Wisconsin her safety was not an issue, and this allows for expanding your dreams. Joycew

I did see how the time in which each lived influenced their lives. I could identify certain things that matched my mom, my grandmother, and me.

I agree with joyces that in each generation represented different circumstances would cause people to act differently. Howevee i also think that certain traits like violets penchant for not discussing the past or iris life of simply filling a role expectex of her were shared with many women of theidr own generation. But not others

In felt that Violet, Iris and Sam were representative of their generations. Violet lived when women we beginning to get some freedoms, Iris was living in the generation that allowed a few more freedoms for women, but the role of women was still defined by men. Sam could make her own rules!