According to Critical Theory Today by Lois Tyson, “defenses are the process by which the contents of our unconscious are kept to the unconscious” (Tyson 15). Defenses can also be described as helping protect oneself from painful experiences. Sometimes defenses fail which cause anxiety, but anxiety also helps reveal specific core issues. Tyson states, “core issues are those deeply rooted, psychological problems that are the source of our self-destructive behavior” (Tyson 16). In the novel The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, both Quoyle and Wavey’s past relationships cause them to suffer from the core issues of fear of abandonment, fear of intimacy, and fear of betrayal. Proulx describes Quoyle as a, “great damp of a loaf” (Proulx 2). Even
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Both Quoyle and Wavey experience this core issue because both of their loved ones abandon them. After Herold and Petal leave, the two are led to believe that they are not good enough and their loved ones do not care about them. Quoyle and Wavey experience emotional abandonment when both Petal and Herold are constantly unfaithful and prove they do not care about Quoyle and Wavey. They also experience physical abandonment when both Petal and Herold leave Quoyle and Wavey and never come back. Because of the fear of betrayal from their previous relationships, both are very protective over their children. Quoyle will do anything for his daughters so they know they are loved. Quoyle proves his love to Bunny when they are on the roof and Bunny tries to help but it is too dangerous, “The father fixing his child in place with starting eyes, inching down the evil slope on the wrong side of everything, then grasping the child’s arm, her hammer falling away, he saying ‘Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move’”(Proulx 107). Quoyle is willing to risk his life for his daughters to show them the love that he was not shown by Petal. Wavey proves her love to Herry by being a strong advocate of children with downs syndrome. Wavey helps children with disabilities when she, “Got up a petition. Called meetings, ah she said, they wrote letters asking for special education class. And got it” (Proulx 146). Wavey believes nothing is impossible for children with disabilities and does everything in her power to protect her son, and make sure he has all of the resources possible to expand his learning. Quoyle and Wavey protect their children and show them they will not abandon them unlike Petal and Herold
Both Quoyle and Wavey experience this core issue because both of their loved ones abandon them. After Herold and Petal leave, the two are led to believe that they are not good enough and their loved ones do not care about them. Quoyle and Wavey experience emotional abandonment when both Petal and Herold are constantly unfaithful and prove they do not care about Quoyle and Wavey. They also experience physical abandonment when both Petal and Herold leave Quoyle and Wavey and never come back. Because of the fear of betrayal from their previous relationships, both are very protective over their children. Quoyle will do anything for his daughters so they know they are loved. Quoyle proves his love to Bunny when they are on the roof and Bunny tries to help but it is too dangerous, “The father fixing his child in place with starting eyes, inching down the evil slope on the wrong side of everything, then grasping the child’s arm, her hammer falling away, he saying ‘Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move’”(Proulx 107). Quoyle is willing to risk his life for his daughters to show them the love that he was not shown by Petal. Wavey proves her love to Herry by being a strong advocate of children with downs syndrome. Wavey helps children with disabilities when she, “Got up a petition. Called meetings, ah she said, they wrote letters asking for special education class. And got it” (Proulx 146). Wavey believes nothing is impossible for children with disabilities and does everything in her power to protect her son, and make sure he has all of the resources possible to expand his learning. Quoyle and Wavey protect their children and show them they will not abandon them unlike Petal and Herold