Without others besides Nollie to compare to, it’s a little tricky to get to the heart of this question. But if we consider the differences between the two women that are highlighted in the story, then we can create a good thesis.

Two obvious differences between them are that Nollie is married and has children, while Corrie has neither of those things. This is true of many other characters in the story, though, so it’s probably not what we’re looking for. Another difference between them is that Corrie is able to tell a lie, while Nollie refuses to do so. We see this twice in the story. First, Nollie defends her daughter Cocky to the whole family for telling the truth about where her brothers were hiding. Nothing happens to them as a result of this truth, and Nollie firmly believes that God honors truth-telling with protection. This nearly leads to a family argument in chapter 7, as Corrie states that she had to “lie with [her] lips” in order to keep their radio.

The second time, it is Nollie herself who tells the truth about the Annaliese, a Jewish girl who is hiding at their house. Annaliese is arrested, and Corrie is sure that Nollie has sealed the girl’s fate. But Annaliese is rescued and escapes.

Ironically, then, the thing that Corrie believes Nollie has while she does not is deep faith. “I had never had Nollie’s bravery—no, nor her faith either.” But Corrie’s actions throughout the rest of the story might cause the reader to doubt the author’s self-perception.

“Chapter 7.” The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom et al., Barbour, 2000.