The Getting of Wisdom · Question
How does The Getting of Wisdom develop the theme of Family and Maternal Expectations?
Answer
The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson develops Family and Maternal Expectations across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Laura's relationship with her mother is fraught with tension, as Mother's ambitions for her daughter's academic success and her own unconventional tastes clash with Laura's struggles, creating guilt and a sense of inadequacy.
The farewell scene highlights the mother's hopes and anxieties for Laura's future, setting up the tension between family loyalty and personal growth.
Laura's attempt to please her mother through self-sacrifice is met with anger, highlighting the gap between Laura's intentions and her mother's expectations.
Mother's anxiety and sternness toward Laura, her worry about managing her, and the tension between them highlight the theme of maternal expectations and family duty.
Evidence in the book
- The Getting of Wisdom
The farewell scene highlights the mother's hopes and anxieties for Laura's future, setting up the tension between family loyalty and personal growth.
- I
Laura's attempt to please her mother through self-sacrifice is met with anger, highlighting the gap between Laura's intentions and her mother's expectations.
- II
Mother's anxiety and sternness toward Laura, her worry about managing her, and the tension between them highlight the theme of maternal expectations and family duty.
- IV
Laura's mother's decisions about her clothing and upbringing clash with Laura's own desires and the school's standards, highlighting maternal influence and expectations.
- VI
Mother's letters impose strict moral and academic expectations on Laura, demanding she be a lady, work hard, and avoid vulgarity.
- VIII
Laura's visit to Godmother's house reveals a cold, argumentative family dynamic, contrasting with her own mother's expectations.
- XVI
The Shepherd household illustrates strained family roles: Mrs. Shepherd's subservience, Isabella's devotion, and Mr. Shepherd's domineering presence.
- XIX
Laura's relationship with Pin fractures as Pin accuses her of being wicked and blames school for the change. Laura's mother is a distant figure whose sewing work and authority loom over the quarrel, and Laura's plan to manipulate her mother reflects strained family dynamics.
