The Brooch

The Brooch by Faulkner is a story of the relationship between a mother, son and his wife. The relationship dynamic between the three is what stuck out to me most in this story. First of all, the mother/son relationship is very strong and they are very close. When he went to college she went with him, the story says, making it so they never have to be apart. In class it was suggested that it might be an "unnatural" relationship, possibly even sexual. I don't really get that from the story. She definitely has a control over his life as is made evident by the fact that he never really went out with anyone, and he hung his head when walking by the pretty girls. She doesn't ever expressly forbid him though and he eventually does fall in love with Amy and he marries her. He can't leave the house because she is his mother and he feels he owes it to her and she is too sick to take care of herself. The mother doesn't like it because of Amy's reputation though. Amy and the mother's relationship is a strained one that only exists because of her son's wishes. She is kind enough to give Amy a Brooch that is worth alot and is a family heirloom. The mother holds no love for her however and as soon as Amy cheats she is ready to give up on her and force her out. Boyd and Amy were in love when they got married and had a descent relationship other than him being angry at her for dancing and drinking with other men. After their baby died they grew apart and he couldn't help her in her grieving so he allowed her to go dancing alone, something he knew one day would lead to her cheating. He felt useless and so he always just hoped it wouldn't happen, but when she did cheat he could no longer go with her and reject his mother or let his mother rule his life anymore. It was just too much to bear and he had to end his own life.