Irene hit the nail on the head: "rattle-brained." Nothing describes better the scene where Vinnie explains the logic behind buying the ceramic dog, getting a refund, buying the kid's new pants and, ultimately, not spending/losing any money as a result.
Yes - it's funny - but it comes at the expense of Vinnie's intelligence. She ends up sounding incredibly stupid - but what else are we to expect from someone who lives/lived in an age when upper class white males were the only ones had any education or power to speak of.
Also, all Vinnie ever does is try to please her husband or keep him from losing his temper - or calming him down when he does lose it. Irene's role in "I Remember Mama" is much more positive. As "Mama," she comes off as the unifying force of the family.
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
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