Diane wrote
Lying around on sofas stops being heroic and self-sacrificing and becomes selfish and
manipulative.
Yes, but I think that's a fairly modern view. You could contrast 19th & 20th century attitudes here, perhaps. Yet we still have invalids sympathetically spoken of - by EBD, for instance.
True Mothers conceal their illnesses until they finally keel over while doing the mending.
This is just what the mothers do in Red Roofs & Sally Anne.
PS I really want to mention the Merediths in Rainbow Valley here, where not having a mother is to be completley unsocialised.
It's too long since I read the book for me to be sure what you mean (not a hint for you to clarify! I'll read it).
And also a representation - as you very rightly suggest - of maternal selflessness - Mum works herself to death? So inducing pangs of reader- guilt.
Yes. I'd be glad if people could supply some examples here. I'm afraid my memory sometimes supplies a quote but not the book it's in.
-- Barbara Dryden
-- ________________________________________ Girlsown mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] For self-administration and access to archives see http://home.it.net.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/girlsown For FAQs see http://www.club-web.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/girlsown/faq-0.htm
