The Religious Affiliation of
Donna
 

BELOW: Donna says that Dale's living arrangement with Amy and Andrea is "unChristian"; Lori tells her so is being judgmental: Donna is probably the most overtly religious character in the group of zombie apocalypse survivors that Rick Grimes has joined up with. Donna watches as Dale, Amy and Andrea return from shooting practice and enter Dale's RV together. In one of the most overt expressions of her religious beliefs and background, Donna states that Dale's living arrangement with Amy and Andrea (two adult sisters many years younger than him) is "unChristian." Lori replies, referencing a concept that is generally attributable to Matthew chapter 7, verses 1 through 3. Lori tells Donna that "being judgmental" is also unChristian. Donna may believe that Dale is committing adultery with Amy and Andrea, although it is not really clear at this point whether he is doing anything other than sleep in the RV with him. Dale's wife recently died (during the zombie outbreak 5 to 6 weeks previous), so technically, if Dale actually is doing anything sexual with Amy and/or Andrea, the sin would be fornication. Or Donna may simply object to such Dale "carrying on" with women who are so much younger than him. (Dale is in his sixties. Amy is 19. Andrea is 26.) Or she might object to the fact that there are two women living in the RV with him. It could be a combination of all of these that prompts Donna to call the situation "unChristian." A few issues later, Donna apparently has relaxed her stance in light of the extraordinary situation they're all in (zombie apocalypse) and although she still doesn't "approve" of Dale's relationship with Andrea, she smiles when she catches Andrea and Dale in a state of mostly-undressed physical intimacy and she leaves them alone and then tells her husband that it is nice to seem them happy together.

Donna: Look at the three of them... Carrying on in front of God and everyone else. it's unChristian.

Lori: So's being judgmental if I remember correctly.

Donna: [walking away in a huff] Hmph!

Carol: [to Lori] Good one.

Source: The Walking Dead #5 (Feb. 2004): "Days Gone Bye, Part 5", pg. 7, panels 5-8. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: sexual morality; adultery; judging others; Christian (denomination unknown); Lori Grimes; Donna

BELOW: Donna is careful to avoid taking the Lord's name in vain: Donna (the wife of Allen and mother of twins Ben and Billy) is the most religious character in the group of zombie apocalypse survivors that Rick Grimes joins up with. In this panel, notice how she carefully avoids breaking the 3rd Commandment (or 4th, depending on the numbering system used): "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." While most people around her would use the expression "My God", Donna says "My Word." This a subtle hint about her character, and contrasts her with many of her fellow survivors who routinely use profane and vulgar language.

Donna: My Word... That's the best news I've heard all month. Shane, darling... come with me... These two have some catching up to do.

Source: The Walking Dead #3 (Dec. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 3", pg. 3, panel 4. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: avoiding taking God's name in vain; Christian (denomination unknown); Donna

BELOW: Dale talks to Rick and Shane about his living situation with Amy and Andrea, pointing out that he's not doing anything with them, despite Donna's suspicions and religious objections: Whatever Donna might suspect is happening in Dale's RV, it seems unlikely at this point that her suspicions are correct. Dale, whose wife died about 6 to 7 weeks previous, is indeed living with two young women (Amy, who is 19, and Andrea who is 26). But he tells Rick and Shane that they're "not doing anything" (meaning that they are not doing any sexual, i.e., fornication, which is Donna's apparent concern).

Rick: Lori tells me Donna just won't shut up about you and the girls living together in that camper. She started right after we got back from target practice a couple days ago and hasn't let up since. Pretty much the only thing she's talked to me about since I let Carl start practicing with us.

Dale: Donna ain't shown a lick of gratitude for my saving her life. I don't see how Allen puts up with her.

Shane: Those poor boys... Think about how she's going to be raising them twins.

Rick: Y'know, I figure you've earned the right to have two pretty young women keep you company. Without all your camping gear, we'd be screwed.

Dale: C'mon guys... I'm not doing anything with those girls. To be honest, I'm an old man... My plumbing ain't what it used to be. It's just-- after losing my wife not two months ago... It's nice having them around. They keep the place clean... Remind me of what it was like with her around.

Rick: You don't have to explain yourselves to us... It's your business. Donna's just an old housewife who doesn't have soap operas to keep her small mind occupied. Don't let her get to you.

Source: The Walking Dead #5 (Feb. 2004): "Days Gone Bye, Part 5", pg. 8, panels 1-5. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: sexual morality; judging others; Rick Grimes; Dale Horvath; Amy; Andrea; Shane Walsh; Donna

BELOW: Donna asks Amy to not use bad language in front of the kids: Donna once again exhibits hints at her religious nature when she warns Amy to not use bad language in front of the kids. Amy uses the expression "damn right," which may seem mild by some standards, but based on her religious values, Donna finds even this unacceptable.

Donna: Don't worry. Amy and Andrea are going to watch the kids.

Carol: Anything to get out of laundry duty.

Amy: You're damn right!

Donna: Not in front of the kids.

Amy: Oh, bite me!

Source: The Walking Dead #3 (Dec. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 3", pg. 10, panels 5-6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: vulgar language; Christian (denomination unknown); Amy; Donna

BELOW: Donna doesn't approve of Dale's relationship with Andrea (apparently on religious grounds), but she is happy to see them find some happiness together. A few weeks ago, Donna said it was "unChristian" the way Dale "carried on" with Amy and Andrea. She complained to the other women in the group about Dale's living situation with two young women who is wasn't married to. A few weeks later after hard living in a zombie apocalypse, Donna appears to have softened her stance, although she still has reservations, apparently on religious grounds. Donna and the group of survivors find a nice subdivision called Wilshire Estates and they decide to stay the night in one of the abandoned homes. While delivering extra blankets to people, Donna catches Dale and Andrea alone together in a room, almost entirely undressed, clearly being romantically intimate with each other. Rather than protesting as one might have expected her to do based on her previous behavior, Donna smiles and tells her husband that it is nice to see people happy together, although she still doesn't approve of them.

Donna: [opening the door to a darkened room] Dale? Andrea? Guys, I found-- [sees Dale being intimate with Andrea]

Donna: [talking to her husband after returning to her own family's room] Andrea's fine. Huh? What? I went in there to give them a blanket and I saw them... Almost all of them... together. So we're getting their extra blanket. I didn't want to interrupt.

Allen: Really? Wow. Lucky for us, then, huh?

Donna: I figured they didn't need it... They're keeping each other plenty warm.

Y'know... I still don't approve of those two, but Andrea's a grown woman and she can make her own decisions. It's just nice to see people happy with all that's going on. I'm happy for them.

Allen: The ice queen melteth.

Donna: Oh, hush.

Source: The Walking Dead #8 (May 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 2", pg. 19-21. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: sexual morality; Christian (denomination unknown); Dale Horvath; Andrea; Donna

BELOW: Donna makes strong feminist statements, which her friends Lori and Carol find unrealistic, saying this isn't about "women's rights": Donna is the most overtly religious character in the group of zombie apocalypse survivors that that Rick Grimes joins up with. In various instances she exhibits strong Christian beliefs. She also appears to hold strong feminist beliefs, as exhibited in a scene where she and two other women from camp head to the creek to do laundry. Note also in this scene that Donna's stand against vulgar and profane language seems to be inconsistent, as she uses both vulgar and profane language here, despite condemning it and avoiding it elsewhere.

Carol: I can't wait to see how these things smell with the new detergent Glenn got from the city!

Lori: That stuff Dale had in the RV just wasn't working. It made the clothes smell better... But not by much.

Donna: Jesus Christ, will you two listen to yourself?! You're excited about trying out a new detergent?! This is such bulsh--.

Lori: Damn, Donna. We're not throwing a party. I'm just looking forward to the possibility of clean smelling clothes. That's be a welcome change at this point.

Donna: I just don't understand why we're the ones doing laundry while they go off and hunt. When things get back to normal I wonder if we'll still be allowed to vote.

Lori: Are you serious? I don't know about you but I can't shoot a gun... I've never even tried. To be honest... I wouldn't trust any of those guys to wash my clothes. Rick couldn't do with with a washing machine... He'd be lost out here. This isn't about women's rights... It's about being realistic and doing what needs to be done.

Donna: Whatever.

Source: The Walking Dead #3 (Dec. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 3", pg. 11, panels 1-6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: vulgar language; invoking deity; Feminist; Lori Grimes; Donna

BELOW: Allen tells Rick he heard his deceased wife talking to him: Rick tries to console Allen, who is still distraught over the death of his wife about a week ago. Allen tells Rick that he heard his wife speaking to him, urging him to take care of their sons. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? Or did Donna's spirit visit Allen to try to to pull him out of his despair so he could better care for their children?

Allen: I just can't sleep in there, y'know. I sit and think about how we both used to sleep in that area in front of the couch and how she's not there anymore. I can't stop thinking about her. Last night... I swear I heard Donna talking to me. I was lying there trying to sleep and she just kept saying "Take care of my boys." It was clear as day... It was like she was sitting right next to me. I think I'm losing my mind.

Rick: You'll get through this, man. Don't worry.

Source: The Walking Dead #11 (Aug. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 5", pg. 6, panels 5-6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: spirit; Rick Grimes; Allen; Donna