Marie Barone

Marie Janella Barone (born November 9, 1929) was the mother of Ray and Robert Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond. She was played by Doris Roberts.

She is the matriarch of the Barone family. As in the sixth season episode titled Lucky Suit (#6.16), Robert refers to her as "Queen Marie". Even though her sons are in their forties, she still coddles them like little kids, but she has always favored the younger son Ray over Robert. She was over-indulgent with Raymond, often offering to take over the responsibilities he is supposed to do (which he rarely does anyway) so he can go play instead of act like a responsible adult. She was constantly in everybody's business and was very bossy and condescending, feigning that "everything she does, is only out of love". It is stated that she had an uneasy relationship with her mother-in-law/Frank's mother.

She was an amazing cook and always has a clean house (Decorated in 1960's/1970's style) with plastic on the sofa. Marie often openly criticizes Ray's wife, Debra, for not keeping her own house "clean enough" and feeding her family properly and she dismisses anyone who doesn't live up to her standards. She thinks Debra is a bossy wife for expecting Raymond to act like a responsible adult. Even though she loves Frank, she constantly bickers with him and calls him a lazy, stubborn slob.

Marie has a passive-aggressive personality making others feel guilty in order to get what she wants. Most of the time, the person that she makes feel guilty is Ray. Debra once called Marie the "Guilt Bomb" because she makes people feel guilty when she doesn't get her way. In "The Finale," Raymond states that her birthday is December 9th, to which Frank jokingly responds, "1802!"

Personality[]

Marie ultimate epitome of the 'aggravating mother in law'. She is what many would call a 'Self Appointed Matriarch', since she’s under the impression that because she is the oldest woman of the family, she has full authority. What she says goes, and it’s either her way or no way. Marie will often present herself as being extremely kind and simply wanting to help, but will do this through patronising comments said with a smile - which famously always offend the other party. She will also meddle in everyone' lives, claiming she is doing it for them, but will often be trying to make things go her way.

Marie is extremely stubborn, condescending, overbearing, critical, conceited, patronizing and manipulative. She is very narcissistic, and can often present and resolve things in a way that make the other party feel bad, even when Marie herself is in the wrong. However, she is also an extremely caring mother, and a person who deeply values 'family' even if it's in her own controlling way. She lives for her sons, especially her youngest song Raymond. She also has great love for her oldest son Robert, however she is shown to favourite Raymond, leaving Robert feeling the need to compete for his mother's love. Despite the feeling of imbalance, Marie can generally be described as a truly dedicated mother - as she has demonstrated on multiple occasions that she will do anything for her sons. This can be seen by her constant attempts to be overly involved in Raymond's life, her allowance of her 30 going on 40 year oldest son to live rent free in her home, her motherly actions when her son's are ill or injured, and her regular supply of home cooked meals to offer to anyone who's around.

Marie is not crazy about her daughter in law Debra- likely stemming from the fact that she took away 'her Raymond'. She is consistently critical of Debra, criticising her cooking, cleaning, looks, ability to raise her kids and so on. She will always side with her son Raymond, and will attempt to make Debra look like failed mother and wife. Throughout most of the series Marie and Debra butt heads, or show distain towards each other behind each other’s back. Despite this, the two have some liking towards each other, and acknowledge they are family.

Marie is also a phenomenal cook and very, very mindful of it. She seemingly shows her love most through her food. This is demonstrated by her famous line "Ya hungry?" which she will say anytime Raymond visits and enters her kitchen. She will also cook for Robert too, and it is clear Robert at the very least, gets a lot of his love from Marie through her food. Most importantly, her marriage with her husband Frank is surrounded around food. Frank loves Marie's cooking, and she will cook daily for him, providing him with any meal he asks for. While the two bicker daily, in a comedic 'trapped with you' type way- if any fight is ever ‘serious’, Marie will always cement this by withholding food from Frank. Their marriage also began by food, when Marie cooked the dish ‘braciole’ for Frank, and after tasting it he said 'be my bride'.

Marie is a woman who holds a grudge. She famously did not talk to her sister for years, after a disagreement happened at her son Raymond’s wedding. She also refused to talk to her daughter in law Debra for 4 whole episodes, which spanned between the ending of season 6 and the start of season 7 (likely months within the show's world!), after a disagreement happened between the two regarding the kids and a knock knock joke. This is noteworthy, as the two live across the street from each other, and much of their relationship is built on the fact that Marie usually visits Debra and Raymond multiple times a day.

Character Development[]

Marie is famous for doing thing that are over-the-top or petty to get her way. She also has a softer side though, and despite her controlling nature - she is a caring figure within her family.

>In Marie's Meatballs (Season 2, Episode 15), Debra wanted to know how to make Marie’s world-famous spaghetti and meatballs. Marie panics but eventually agrees to teach Debra. However, later it is revealed that Marie 'spiked' Debra's cooking by giving her a “basil” jar, but it’s really tarragon with a fake label. When Ray goes over to confront her, explaining Debra’s ‘going crazy’ Marie is forced to admit she was wrong and apologises. As a compromise, she also hands over the majority of her real recipes to Debra, which is a moment that reveals that she must love Debra in her own way.

>Another note-worthy occasion was Lucky Suit (Season 6 Episode 16) where Robert gets a job opportunity with the FBI. Marie ruins his lucky suit by burning it with an iron to sabotage his job interview, also doing other things to further hurt his chances. Later when she sees how badly she hurt Robert, she goes to see the FBI agent in person, who sees through Marie. This forces Marie to confess that she is devastated that Robert has gone into such a dangerous field, and that she walks around with 'a knot in her stomach' constantly worried for his safety. This is a demonstration of Marie's softer side - showing at heart she is a mother who worries for her sons.

>Marie is also extremely dedicated to both her sons, despite the ongoing theory that she favours Raymond. In Robert's Rodeo (Season 4, episode 15), Robert is badly injured by a bull. Marie immediately allows Robert to move back in with her, and throughout the episode is shown doing everything she can to cheer him up and care for him. Marie is shown cooking anything he likes, running to the store just to buy him a snack, and it is revealed that she has been changing his bandages multiple times a day. This is another demonstration that while Marie may seem to favour Raymond, she is a mother who cares deeply for both her children.

>Marie generally presents love in a condescending and narcissist manor, often doing things without people asking. She does this mainly to her daughter in law Debra- cleaning her house without permission, making comments about her cooking and improvements to be made, barging into the house without warning. She has meddled in both her son's lives, seemingly making decisions for them- such as her many attempts to push Robert towards his eventual love interest Amy. Despite this problematic method, and while it may seem Marie does many things in order for the outcome to benefit her, she has always been adamant that she does these things out of love, and simply wants to 'help' everyone out. This should be seen as confirmed- as Marie has always been there for all her family when things get tough - such as when Debra is sick, when Raymond is sick, when Robert is badly injured, and when certain disagreements or events happen within the family that are more serious.

Relationship to other characters[]

Mother to Ray and Robert Barone
Mother-in-law to Debra and Amy
Wife to Frank Barone
Grandmother to Ally, Michael, and Geoffrey Barone
Friend to Lee and Stan

Memorable Quotes[]

MARIE: I can't talk! There's too much fruit in the house!
MARIE: (frequently throughout the series) I don't like that, Raymond.
- Raymond enters the kitchen*
MARIE: Ya hungry?

DEBRA: (chuckles) Cleaning is cleaning.
MARIE: You'd think so!

RAY: Did you say that you like Amy more than Debra?
MARIE: I am not saying that.

RAY: I know. I know you're not saying it now. But did you say it--ever?

(Pause)

RAY: What if I told you that we have a tape of you saying it, Ma?
MARIE: Give me the tape.
MARIE: (as Debra rolls eyes) May I say something as an impartial observer?

MARIE: Years ago, I gave birth to two beautiful boys. And I wanted nothing more than to see them grow up, get married, and give me grandchildren. But if you want to take that away from me, by all means you go and tell that to Robert. And I'll just be back across the street living out the rest of my life...as best I can...with a hole in my heart.
(To Debra) Don’t let a suitcase full of cheese be your big fork and spoon.
(To Frank) YOUR’E LUCKY THIS BREAD IS NOT STALE BECAUSE I WOULD GIVE YOU A CONCUSSION!!!!
(To Raymond) TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS!

Trivia[]

Marie and Ray are the only main characters to appear in every episode.
Marie likes Ray more than Robert.
Marie's nickname by her son's is 'Ma'