Comparative Study: "A Taste of Honey" and "A Mother's Fondness" Essay Example
Mother-daughter relationships are very special, because there is a unique bond, bound by unconditional love that is only present between mothers and daughters. Because of this strong bond, other problems occur with it that can be disruptive and problematic. "A Taste of Honey", by Shelagh Delany, and "A Mother's Fondness", by Marion. R. Stewart are both texts about mother-daughter relationships. "A Taste of Honey", is a play about a very distant relationship between Helen a semi-whore, and her daughter Jo, a school girl. "A Mother's Fondness" is a short story also about a relationship between Cathie and her mother, which is also distant, and uncommunicative.
Cathie is her mother's number one priority and would do anything for her:
"My stomach turned, I felt hungry but could not eat, tired but could not sleep, tormented by my imagination."
This is typical of parents as they always think that their child is hurt or lost, because it is natural instinct to protect their child, so when they cannot they believe that something horrific has happened because they need to protect their child. This is shown by "tormented by my imagination", because she is imagining that her child has been traumatised or undergone something horrific. This also shows that she cares for and loves her child as she is suffering from physical effects; telling us that it has affected her very much.
Helen on the other hand in "A Taste of Honey" is very selfish and therefore puts herself and others ahead of Jo:
"JO: You leave me alone. And eave my mother alone too.
(Helen enters)
PETER: Get away! For God's sake go and...
HELEN: Leave him alone Jo. He can't be bothered with you.
Got a cigarette, Peter? Did you get yourself a drink?
"Jo: You leave me alone. And leave my mother alone too." is very significant and important because it shows that Jo loves her mother and wants to protect her. This makes Helen's reactions to Jo very shocking because Jo's love and care for her mother is not
Cathie is her mother's number one priority and would do anything for her:
"My stomach turned, I felt hungry but could not eat, tired but could not sleep, tormented by my imagination."
This is typical of parents as they always think that their child is hurt or lost, because it is natural instinct to protect their child, so when they cannot they believe that something horrific has happened because they need to protect their child. This is shown by "tormented by my imagination", because she is imagining that her child has been traumatised or undergone something horrific. This also shows that she cares for and loves her child as she is suffering from physical effects; telling us that it has affected her very much.
Helen on the other hand in "A Taste of Honey" is very selfish and therefore puts herself and others ahead of Jo:
"JO: You leave me alone. And eave my mother alone too.
(Helen enters)
PETER: Get away! For God's sake go and...
HELEN: Leave him alone Jo. He can't be bothered with you.
Got a cigarette, Peter? Did you get yourself a drink?
"Jo: You leave me alone. And leave my mother alone too." is very significant and important because it shows that Jo loves her mother and wants to protect her. This makes Helen's reactions to Jo very shocking because Jo's love and care for her mother is not