Analysis Of David Small's Stitches

A childhood full of abuse can have a tremendously negative effect on a person’s mental stability later on in life. A cycle of abuse, in which an abused child grows up to abuse their own children, is not an uncommon occurrence. The abuse is often accepted as justified discipline from an adult and it becomes more likely that the abused begins to blame themselves for the pain they are caused. David Small’s memoir, Stitches, touches on the subject of abuse and its effect on one’s behavior later on in life. It can be argued that David’s mother, Betty, was the victim of abuse at the hands of her own mother when she was younger. If so, her abuse riddled past can be blamed for her controlling behavior throughout the book.

The origins of Betty’s behavior

She is selfish, unloving, critical, abusive, and refuses to open up about her feelings. While David was always aware of this, it doesn’t truly register until his therapist tells David that his mother doesn’t love him. (255) However, one must take into account that the story is being told from David’s memory of his childhood. It is expected for him to exaggerate the details of some of the events, especially how abusive his mother might have been, to create a sort of antagonist in his memoir. Small might have been too young to be able to put together the pieces of the cause of Betty’s mental illness. While there are many instances where the reader is justified in questioning Betty’s love for David, it is impossible to know whether or not she actually loved him. While the therapist does plainly state she doesn’t, his motives are questionable. This therapist is being paid to speak to David about his feelings. It benefits him for David to feel inadequate of his mother’s love. This could be an attempt to psychologically torment David to the point where he falls to his knees in need of the therapist’s comfort. (255) Betty, however, only ever shows remorse for her actions when she’s under the impression that her son will die. She reluctantly grants him one last wish, no longer concerned with a boy who was practically dead, living up to her expectations. (172) While this may have been perceived as an act of kindness, it could more likely be considered an act of self-preservation. She granted her son one last wish so she wouldn 't have to live with the guilt of knowing she never caused him any pleasure. But the moment it seems as if David could live, she steals back the book he had asked her for because she doesn’t approve of it.