In "The Wide, Wide World,” the text shows us that parents play a crucial role in teaching children right from wrong and how to behave. We see throughout the chapters that Ellen looks up to her mother, Mrs. Montgomery and wants to spend every minute of the day with her. Ellen will do anything and everything her mother tells her to do. Ellen states that she has many faults “but amidst them all, love to her mother was the strongest feeling her heart knew” (25). Even though her mother does take care of Ellen, throughout the text we see the roles reversed to where Ellen is taking care of her mother. Because of Mrs. Montgomery’s illness, Ellen is always making her toast and tea, and doing everything else in her power to please her. It is extremely apparent that Mrs. Montgomery is the center of Ellen’s world. On the other hand, Ellen is very distant from Mr. Montgomery. She states “Captain Montgomery was away, which indeed was the case most of the time”(36). Ellen says this multiple times throughout the text that he is never around. At the end when Ellen is leaving it discusses how Captain Montgomery shows no emotion at all towards her leaving.
To differentiate the roles between mother and fathers, the author creates an emotional bond to mothers and a distant bond towards fathers. This shows how mothers back in the 19th century may have been more involved in their children’s lives then fathers where. Fathers served the role of working to support the family and where hardly around because of that work.
I think the way Ellen perceives her parents is very apparent. She absolutely loves her mother and will not do anything to go against or disobey her. Ellen says “she would rather even die so, on her mothers breast, than live long without her in the world-she felt that in earth or in heaven there was nothing so dear” (51). This shows how much she loves her mother, and how she would rather be in heaven with her rather then continue living without her. We see a completely different view when it comes to her father. I think she perceives him as more of the provider that is very distant and just works to help the family financially. Even though he may make the money for the family, Ellen never expects anything out of him. When Ellen met the old man and he was giving her gifts, I think she saw him as the father figure she was missing out on.
The wisdom and advice that Mrs. Montgomery offers Ellen is something Ellen will always hold on to and abide by because of the great respect she has for her mother. Mrs. Montgomery even tells Ellen to search in the Bible for advice to get by in life and also to trust in God. Ellen is shown to be very dependent on her mother throughout the text and her mother is trying to teach her to depend on the Bible and God, because she is not going to be around much longer.
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I really like how you tied in that the old man was a father figure. That is a very interesting way to put it and I agree totally. I really appreciate how you quote directly but also put the page number. See you in class!
ReplyDeleteThe way the old man fills the role of a father figure in Ellen's life is such a great example of even though one may be someone's biological parent it doesn't make them a "mama" or a "daddy" to the child. That can only be done by forming a relationship and a strong bond between the parent in the child. One that Mr. Montgomery clearly doesn't have or appear to even want to have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said that the father was viewed as just the provider. I also put that in mine, that she was only worried when her father lost another lawsuit because they would be poor, not because he would have to travel more. She is so close with her mother and is loved by her that she does not have a void for her father and is completely content with one parent.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the whole idea of the text is to teach children from wrong and right and a guide on how to behave. I also like the insight you offered on the wisdom and advice that Mrs. Montgomery offered to Ellen and how this will benefit and be with her the rest of her life, even though her mother wont be there. Overall good blog.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your idea about making a distinction between the two parents. It really is clear that there is a much stronger bond between Ellen and her mom, which makes us like Mrs. Montgomery so much more than Mr. Montgomery. Adding how Ellen seems to depend very little on her father also helped make the distinction clear. Interesting connection!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said about how the roles between Ellen as a daughter and Mrs. Montgomery as a mother at times seem to be reversed. With the mother being sick, she can not nurture Ellen in a physical way and instead does it by talking with her and teaching her important life lessons.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog entry for this week. You really did a great job showing the difference between the two parents and how strong of a bond Ellen has with her mother rather than her father. Showing all of the wisdom Ellen's mother gave her and how it would help her later in life was a really great connection between two very valid points. Great blog post!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you described Mr. Montgomery as the provider. I feel that in some way he may care for Ellen but he just does not know how to show it. During this time period fathers and daughters were not close and this was because they each had very different roles. He does provide for her and he gives her financial stabilty.
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