Summary Of Average Waves In Unprotected Waters

In “Average Waves in Unprotected Waters” by Anne Tyler, readers follow Bet Blevins and her mentally disabled son, Arnold, during the 1970’s. The two were on a journey to a mental institution where Arnold would be living. Anne Tyler shows the battle of a single mother trying to raise a disabled child and struggling to do so. The point of view of the story is third person limited which helps the readers to become better acquainted with one specific character. The readers get better insight into the main character, Bet, and how she thinks which will influence her actions. It mainly focuses on Bet’s insecurity about parenting, her struggles to continue raising Arnold, and the signs that she loved him. The readers are allowed to see what the pair’s relationship …show more content…
Before leaving the apartment, Bet was said to have felt too frail and wispy to complete her tasks. She was able to compose herself as to not let Arnold sense her change in mood. Bet struggled to get him to be excited for the outing, but she knew that he was listening. Although Arnold was mainly focused on the ceiling, “his gaze turned wild” which proved that he was aware of the events to come. Bet had bought Arnold a new coat, that cost half a week’s salary, so that he would look more presentable and so that she would appear to be a loving mother. As she struggles to get him to put on the coat, Arnold was described as being wiry and strong. “He was getting to be too much for her” and Bet fears that she might not be able to care for him much longer. Bet had always felt bad about how she carefully