Harry Bergen, Patty’s father, is wounded. He is also harmful. Harry hurts Patty physically and mentally. “...telling me that he did not ever want me playing with that Dowd boy, not ever again.” (Greene 64). By telling Patty she could not play with Freddy, that hurt her mentally. He is trying to take away one of her only friends. When Patty and Freddy were together, Harry would beat his daughter, therefore hurting her physically. Harry finds himself in distress over Patty. “He stood watching the housekeeper help you into the house.” While Harry watches Ruth help Patty into the house, he realizes what is going on. The realization that Patty, and others, did not love him. These things hurt Harry really bad. …show more content…
For someone who appears strong and confident, Pearl Bergen, Harry’s wife, longs for love.
Pearl needs her parents’ attention. “If Grandmother tries to give you money you just tell her you do not need anything.” (29). Pearl, spoiled with attention from her parents, wants more from them. She does not feel loved enough by them. She wants her parents to spend their time and money on her and not Patty and Sharon. Pearl not only has a bad relationship with her parents, but with her husband as well. “Oh Harry, leave her alone.” Harry does not listen to his wife. They do not discuss their decisions, specifically when it comes to their kids. Pearl, like any woman, wants a good relationship with her
husband.
Sometimes people long for love from other people, not just family. Patty Bergen longs for love from Anton Reiker. “Even if you forget everything else I want you to always remember that you are a person of value, and you have a friend who loved you enough to give you his most valued possession.” (142). Patty has someone who is a good friend to her. Someone who understands where she has been and what it is like to be an outsider. “If there were no mirrors or mothers I probably would never know how ugly I am.” (18) . Patty feels that she let her mother down with her looks and how she does not care about her appearance.
The Bergen family is broken and scared. They all have their differences, but they have one thing in common. They all long for love from each other. If they could realize this, maybe it would not be so bad. Love is hard work, and none of them are willing to work for it.