Mother and son Flashcards
Quote 1
“Do you want me to take a job? I’ll take a job tomorrow… if only you’ll say”
Sentence structure/ellipses
Word choice
The use of the word choice of “tomorrow” shows how John is ready to get a job as soon as possible, which shows the connotation of Johns eagerness to get a job and be like all his other friends.
The use of the ellipses is to show his hesitation, and highlights how he will only leave with his mothers permission, this shows the connotation of John begging her for her approval so he can have some fulfilment in life.
This shows the cost of Duty to John because with his responsibility of caring for his mother he can never achieve what aspires to do.
Quote 2
“he was making the same eternal argument and the same eternal concession.”
Word choice
The use of the word “eternal” gives the denotation of going on forever, which highlights the repetitive and continuous nature of this argument, the use of the word concession gives the meaning of to accept defeat, which highlights how John is forever losing this argument.
This highlights the cost of duty for John caring for his mother since he must always put his infirm and ungrateful mother first.
Quote 3
“He walked to the door, opened it, and stood listening to the rain.”
Symbolism
The use of the symbol of a doorway is used to gives the denotation of opportunity, John opens the door and this gives the connotation of him finally letting go of his burden of a mother to pursue happiness and interests. However he never goes through the door so it is up to interpretation as to whether John does anything.
This shows how John gives up his caring duty ( and rightly so, she was an old hag with no redeeming qualities ) to start to live his own life and look for freedom.
Quote 4
“Your fathers people had something wrong with their heads, it was in your family but not in ours.
Contrast
The contrast between “in your family but not ours” shows how she sees herself as mentally capable and competent however believes that John’s father is a lunatic, and blames any form of flaw in John and his personality for being his fathers son rather than her own son.
This shows the destructive nature of relationships since John has to put up with the old woman’s constant insults and belligerence, despite her complete dependence on him.
Quote 5
“she enjoyed pricking him with her subtle arrows.”
Metaphor
The use of the metaphor gives the denotation her words being used as a weapon to inflict pain and distress on John, this shows how his caustic mother chooses to torment him for her own satisfaction.
Shows the abusive and destructive nature of relationships since John’s mother hurts him for her own gain.
Quote 6
I sometimes don’t know why we christened you John’ -with a sigh.
Word choice
Use of the word choice “christened” is used to refer to the very important ritual in Christianity which rids you of sin, this highlights the connotation of how his mother doesn’t think the ritual was worth it because he is useless anyway.
This highlights the destruction in this relationship since whilst he is trying to keep them alive care for both of them she is perpetually complaining and goading him.
Quote 7
her chatter which eddied round and round, then burst venomously towards him.
Metaphor
The use of the simile shows the denotation of how her words circulate around the room, which highlights how they linger and bother John after they have been said, the extended metaphor of them “bursting toward him venomously” highlights their intention to deal damage to his mental health.
This highlights the self destructive nature of the bitter mother and how she breaks apart her son intentionally, almost asking him to leave her on her own.
Abuse and the destructive nature of some relationships
Quote 8
At these times her little bitter barbs passed over him or through him and came out of the other side. Most often however they stung him and stood quivering in his flesh.
Metaphor
The writer gives the metaphor’s denotation of the mothers words being like tiny arrows/ weapons to highlights how his mother wounds her own son emotionally because of her own pain and suffering, caused by her illness.
This shows the destructiveness of their relationship since the pain inflicted by John’s mother is lasting and will prevent him from achieving happiness in the future as well.
Abuse and the destructive nature of some relationships
Quote 9
Every time she spoke these words the same brutal pain stabbed him.
Transferred epithet
The human quality of stabbing is given to pain to give the denotation of the severity of the pain, this emphasises the Johns agony and emphasises the feeling of uselessness that is drilled into Johns mind.
This shows the
Abuse and the destructive nature of some relationships and
how the Mother wants to break her son down and highlights the suffocating relationship between the two of them.
Abuse and the destructive nature of some relationships
Quote 10
He took no notice, but puffed at his cigarette. There was a terrible weariness in his eyes.
Transferred epithet
The writer gives the quality of terribleness to his weariness, to highlight how this fatigue is a product of John’s mental health deteriorating, and the negative effects of this tiredness.
His taking no notice highlights how John is isolated because of a lack of affection and being too young and immature to cope with the laborious task of caring for his mother on his own.
Isolation and loneliness.
Quote 11
Detachedly he thought: how can this thing make my life a hell for me? What is she anyway?
Rhetorical question
The writer uses the rhetorical questions to show how John begins to reflect on how his mother is punishing him for his existence and dedication to her care, and makes the reader question Johns anger and the mothers maliciousness.
This shows the theme of Abuse and destructive relationships, because both people are unhappy with the situation, and so angry with each other that staying together can only make things worse.
Abuse and the destructive nature of some relationships
Quote 12
“his loneliness closed around him, making him feel as though he was on a boat in a limitless ocean.”
Simile
The use of the simile gives the denotation of it being impossible for John to reach the shore, or to end his own loneliness, this shows the connotation of emphasising how John feels alienated by his situation.
This highlights the theme of isolation and shows how this isolation is created by his duty to care for his callous and belittling mother.
Loneliness and isolation
Quote 13
“he couldn’t be said to speak the words: as sometimes happens when one is in a deep reverie”
Colon
The use of the colon is sentence structure highlighting how John’s daydream is directly linked to his lack of communication, this can be interpreted as John internalising because of the misery in his life and his inhospitable environment at home.
This shows the theme of loneliness and isolation since he is isolated from his surroundings and creating a barrier between himself and the outside world.
Loneliness and isolation
Quote 14
gathering the sheaves into stacks was both monotonous and uncomfortable.
Word choice
The use of the word “monotonous” gives the denotation of repetitive and boring, to highlight the connotation of how the task is repetitive and boring, which shows that John doesn’t do these jobs because he wants to, but rather because he feels he has to. The use of the word uncomfortable further reveals how John finds this work difficult and unenjoyable.
This shows the hardship of rural life and the physicality of living in the rural community, but also the boring nature of it.
Hardship of rural life
Quote 15
“This time he concentrated his gaze on her scraggy neck,”
Word choice
Use of den of concentrated shows his unbreaking gaze and anger towards her
Shows con of his violent and spontaneous thoughts which appear.
Highlights the theme of internal crisis and the destructive nature of some relationships.
