How were the relationships between the mothers and daughters in the novel portrayed? How does the mother-daughter relationship differ between the two sets of characters?
Created: 09/18/13
Replies: 11
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Join Date: 04/14/11
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One way they differed is in the relationship between Theodora and Clarissa, the mom wanted her daughter to have the same life she had. The mom in the other relationship did NOT want her daughter to have the same life she herself had. So they raised their daughters accordingly.
Join Date: 07/28/11
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Join Date: 01/16/12
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I saw Emmeline as a big hearted hands on mother who wanted to be more available to her daughters then she could be. Theodora fulfilled the duties that her station in life required and didn't appear to have as much of an emotional attachment to her daughter as Emmeline had to her two girls. Ironically, both women's lives were controlled by Cornelius. Although Emmeline had no option in regards to this relationship, Cornelius appears to be warmer and kinder to her than to Theodora. Of course, this kindness came with the underlying threat of selling her or her daughters if she didn't comply to his demands
Join Date: 04/21/11
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Join Date: 04/12/12
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I actually thought Theodora mothered both the girls and that was to her credit. Emmeline loved and protected Sarah as best as she could and would have sacrificed anything for her. I am not sure Theodora would have done that. Theodora showed more of the battered woman characteristics than Emmeline did. But maybe Cornelius actually loved Emmeline more than he did Theodora.
Join Date: 05/07/13
Posts: 105
Cornelius keeps both women under his power. This power directs their relationship with their daughters. Emmeline lives in fear that Cornelius will sell her or her children and after he does sell Belle and Emmeline sees what has happened to her, she lives to keep her family close. Theodora also lives in fear of his abuse; but until Clarissa reveals her pregnancy, Theodora has never considered that he could discard Clarissa so casually. Therefore, although she has done all the things in teaching Clarissa how to live like a lady, she has missed the chance to be a mother.
Join Date: 06/13/11
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I thought both mothers wanted the best for their daughters but did not know how to obtain it. Theodora, a battered woman, did not want that life for daughter but was forced by the society of the day to rely on others to find the mate. Of course Emmeline, a slave, wanted freedom for her daughter. She did however know men who could help. Was this reliance on men typical of the lives of free and slave women?
Peggy H
Join Date: 03/24/12
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Join Date: 08/29/13
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Peggy, Women were not considered except as related to men. Anything a woman had was considered her fathers before marriage or her husbands after marriage. In some ways its taken women longer to get equal rights then for black people to get their rights. Black people voted before women did. We have a black president. We have not had a woman president. I think Emmeline encouraged Sarah to try to have freedom and a better life. Even though Theodoras life was unhappy I think she was preparing her daughter for the same life she had.
Join Date: 09/14/11
Posts: 12
I don't think it really did differ. Perhaps in the obvious ways but the truth is that they were both of the mercy of the same man. Theodora was limited by the societal norms of the day and Emmaline were guided by her position as a slave. They both loved their daughters yet they were both victims of the same man and new they had nothing to say about their daughters future.
Join Date: 03/13/12
Posts: 548
First, I saw the similarity of both women loving their daughters and also having fear of Cornelius while trying to avoid him, if at all possible. Emmeline seemed to have more actual love in her heart, whereas Theodora was sort of the stereotypical Southern woman instilling in her daughter some of the same desires and behaviors which had led her into the marriage which looked good from the outside but was really unhappy. Emmeline values freedom for her daughter, while Theodora still values a wealthy husband.
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