Familial Relations
Are You My Mother?
Both novels present a dead mother, who during life, was not what the daughters considered suitable as a mother figure. The difference is in how the daughters dealt with this belief. Eleanor believes she killed her mother by neglecting her banging on the wall. In fact the house speaks to Eleanor in her voice, while banging on the walls and doors. (1.126) This guilt is in spite of the fact that Eleanor seemed relieved by her mother's death and the release of her servitude to her cross mother. (1.6) There is the possibility that Eleanor was fully aware of her mother's banging and chose to ignore it, purposely passively killing her. Either way, Eleanor's escape from her mother is not genuine, as Hill House acts as a containing maternal figure as well. (Rubenstein, 317) Mary Katherine is also responsible for her mother's death, as well as the rest of her family, excluding her older sister and Uncle. However, Mary Katherine's murders were on purpose, she actively poisoned them. Mary Katherine feels no guilt over this, though her reasoning behind the murders is not entirely revealed, it is apparent that she has a large capacity for hate, as does Eleanor, and this may have fueled her actions. It seems, however, that she strongly disliked the way her mother put on a show as well as any reprimands she received as a child. (3.139) Either way she has killed the mother she deemed unfit and has replaced her with her older sister Constance, who despite knowing her sister murdered her family, still loves and cares for her. In fact, Constance never truly reprimands Mary Katherine for actions throughout the novel, making her a "good" mother figure. (Rubenstein, 320) The traumatic relations that exist between mother and daughter are strongly represented in these two novels, as well as additional ones. The recurring theme of "bad" mothers, whether trapping their daughters or of forcing them to behave as the mothers deem acceptable are reflections of her own history and emotional distress brought on by her mother. (Rubenstein,325)
What Makes A Sister? |
It should be noted that when Jackson created the Blackwood sisters that the roles they filled were not that of sisters. Mary Katherine was the perpetual child to Constance's motherly position. Constance is forgiving of Mary Katherine as well as nurturing. She takes the guilt and pain the Mary Katherine should feel and puts it on herself, as a mother would bare the load of a child's wrong-doings. In contrast, Eleanor and Theodora are not of relation, but decide they should be; initially referring to each other as sisters, but eventually determining they are cousins, since Eleanor has essentially denounced her own sister and is now alone in the world she readily accepts Theodora's relationship. It does stand to note that Mary Katherine never feels any hatred towards her sister despite showing a strong capacity for it, while Eleanor's capacity for hatred is first exhibited when it's directed at Theodora. Additionally, it appears as though Mary Katherine is able to manipulate Constance, while Eleanor is manipulated by Theodora.
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