In her memoir, Mary McCarthy reflects on the freedom she has as a writer to portray her grandmother authentically without feeling the need to justify her character through psychological frameworks or traumatic backstories. This approach highlights the difference between memoir and fiction, allowing McCarthy to present her grandmother's traits straightforwardly, regardless of societal expectations for depth or complexity in character analysis.

McCarthy's perspective suggests that memoir allows for a more genuine representation of individuals as they are remembered, rather than how they might be interpreted through modern psychological lenses. This statement also implies that family memories do not require justification, permitting authors the liberty to express their thoughts and emotions candidly.