A Bird in the House suggests that women have great influence over families and one another. An interesting manipulation of women’s roles compared to what the social norm is illustrated throughout these stories. There is a reversal of gender roles in the Grandmother-Grandfather Connor relationship, as well as a heavy feminine influence in the relationship among Grandmother MacLeod and her family. Finally, the importance of Beth becomes more apparent, even though her character is exhibited as flat. An important note to make is that Vanessa is the narrator, so every memory is presented from her perspective, tainting the story with her opinions and biases. This makes for a much more subjective view of women, being that she is a little girl with
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Beth stays the same throughout A Bird in the House, in the sense that she is always a loving, supportive mother, who clashes with her father, but understands there is no solution to arguing with him. “What’s the use [of defying him]? It’s like batting your head against a brick wall. He’d get his way in the end. He always does” (page 165) she says to Edna. She is the appeaser, looking to help her sister Edna in her own life(“You go, Edna. You haven’t been away for I don’t know how long. Go on. Go ahead”(page 170), while still guiding her husband and dealing with his rare outbursts (“Don’t talk stupidly” (page 89). Her character does not change over the course of the stories, but she does pass away at the end. Her death is described as “[the one that] remained unhealed in [Vanessa’s] mind longest” (page 198). Beth was the true housewife, having abandoned her job to serve her family, and she was the glue that kept both sides of the family together. Her sister Edna would have run off or have been driven mad by Grandfather Connor, while Grandfather Connor most certainly would have died from the stress he kept inflicting upon himself. Grandmother MacLeod controlled much of the house, but Beth was always there to make sure that Vanessa did not bother Grandmother, saving her from a …show more content…
All of these women, Grandmother Connor, Grandmother MacLeod, and Beth are prominent female figures in Vanessa’s young life, impacting her early on. She learns from their authoritative presence, as well as their willingness to work towards an appeasement, while still having influence on the people near her. Women are empowered subtly, but in a way that changes the course of Vanessa’s life and the lives of all those involved. Women are the cornerstone and the foundation to what we call
Beth stays the same throughout A Bird in the House, in the sense that she is always a loving, supportive mother, who clashes with her father, but understands there is no solution to arguing with him. “What’s the use [of defying him]? It’s like batting your head against a brick wall. He’d get his way in the end. He always does” (page 165) she says to Edna. She is the appeaser, looking to help her sister Edna in her own life(“You go, Edna. You haven’t been away for I don’t know how long. Go on. Go ahead”(page 170), while still guiding her husband and dealing with his rare outbursts (“Don’t talk stupidly” (page 89). Her character does not change over the course of the stories, but she does pass away at the end. Her death is described as “[the one that] remained unhealed in [Vanessa’s] mind longest” (page 198). Beth was the true housewife, having abandoned her job to serve her family, and she was the glue that kept both sides of the family together. Her sister Edna would have run off or have been driven mad by Grandfather Connor, while Grandfather Connor most certainly would have died from the stress he kept inflicting upon himself. Grandmother MacLeod controlled much of the house, but Beth was always there to make sure that Vanessa did not bother Grandmother, saving her from a …show more content…
All of these women, Grandmother Connor, Grandmother MacLeod, and Beth are prominent female figures in Vanessa’s young life, impacting her early on. She learns from their authoritative presence, as well as their willingness to work towards an appeasement, while still having influence on the people near her. Women are empowered subtly, but in a way that changes the course of Vanessa’s life and the lives of all those involved. Women are the cornerstone and the foundation to what we call