Infinite love A mother's love is unconditional and eternal. In Robert Harling's play Steel Magnolias, Harling shows how the mother-daughter relationship that M'lynn and Shelby share is the strongest relationship in the play. Harling also demonstrates how, even if a person dies, the feelings that others have for that person do not die with them, in fact, in some cases they can even grow. To love unconditionally you have to be there for another person, no matter what. situation or how painful it might be. M'lynn showed how she loved her daughter unconditionally in two ways; first, M'lynn risked her own life to help save Shelby's, and second, she stood by Shelby when no one else would. M'lynn risked her life when she decided she would give up her kidney for Shelby: “But I'm lucky. I don't have to wait any longer. Mother will give me one of her kidneys” (58). M'lynn showed how much she loved her daughter and wanted to save her even if it meant dangerous surgery. “[Shelby] They basically have to saw her in half to get the kidney. It's a major, important surgery for her” (59). There is no better way to demonstrate your love for another person than to risk your life for their well-being. What is probably one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire play is also one that proves that M'lynn's love for Shelby is stronger than all the others, as she remains by her side until the end. “[M'lynn] I just stood there. I kept pushing… But eventually we all realized there was no hope. At this point I panicked... they turned off the machines. Drum couldn't stand it. He's gone. Jackson couldn't stand it. He's gone. It seemed funny to me... But I couldn't leave” (67). This quote shows that the love that Shelby and M'lynn have,... middle of paper... is better” (71). The radio symbolizes how, even though Shelby is dead, she will always be with them, in spirit. M'lynn, "hitting" that radio so that it works is a way for her to keep Shelby's spirit and memory alive inside the store through the sound waves emanating from the radio. Once someone is gone, it doesn't mean that the love that people had for that person goes with them, it lives on in many different ways. M'lynn is a mother who had a deep love for her daughter. She risked her life and stood by her daughter, no matter the situation. Just because a person dies, it doesn't mean the love people had for the deceased also dies. One might simply turn to Steel Magnolias to see how love can live on, even if the person is not with us on Earth. M'lynn is the mother every child deserves, and the mother all women should strive to be.