What is the impact of success, failure, or a surprising outcome on the protagonist?

Mama, the protagonist and narrator of the story, doesn't suffer from failure. Mama's failure is only perceived by the antagonist, her daughter Dee, and Dee's ultimate wish to walk away from the things she considered worth having..... her mother's successes. Mama's ultimate success becomes apparent in her ability to say "no" to her forceful daughter and protect her youngest (Maggie). Some may find this surprising, as we initially witness Mama attempting to please Dee..... the girl who moved away from home..... the "successful" member of the family. None-the-less, we come to see that Mama doesn't view success in terms of jobs and things, but rather the innate value of the person.