Alma Wheatley (née Benson) is a lonely housewife with an absent husband and her own vices. She and her husband Allston reside at 4400 Reed Lane, Lexington, Kentucky.
The Wheatleys adopted Beth Harmon in 1963 and Alma welcomes Beth as both her adopted daughter and much-needed companion. Soon after Beth arrived, Mr. Wheatley left for a work trip and Alma was on a downward spiral, drinking, smoking, and taking Librium. Mr. Wheatley later unofficially separated from Alma, but she and Beth decided not to tell anyone, avoiding Beth being sent back to the orphanage. [1]
When Alma and Beth first went shopping for clothes, she denies Beth a chess set and instead starts giving her an allowance. At firs Alma didn't care for chess and suggested Beth social clubs instead, but later acted as Beth's manager, even gaining a fee of 15% of all Beth's winnings. She accompanies Beth to tournaments all over the United States, organises hotels and cheers her on.
At Beth's first major international tournament in Mexico City, she hooks up with an old pen-pal Manuel and begins an affair. However, Manuel leaves after about a week, deepening Alma's depression. Shortly afterwards, Beth discovers Alma dead in her hotel room of suspected hepatitis, exacerbated by her alcoholism.
Trivia[]
- As a girl she had ambitions to be a concert pianist and still likes to play, but her career was derailed by stage fright.
- In her home she had an old piano that belonged to her grandmother, June.
- She had been learning piano before she was 15.
- Alma loves animals but due to her husband's allergies she cannot have pets. [1]
- She had Rosa Bonheur art prints hung in her living room.[1]
References[]
| Characters |
|---|
| Beth Harmon • Alma Wheatley • Benny Watts • Jolene • Harry Beltik • William Shaibel D.L. Townes • Allston Wheatley • Vasily Borgov • Alice Harmon • Helen Deardorff • Annette Packer • Borgov's wife • Cleo • Christopher • Dave Friedman • Mr. Ganz • Janet • Margaret Johnson • Paul |