Analyse the relationship between the mother and her son in The Son's

Analyse the relationship between the mother and her son in The Son's

Veto by Thomas Hardy showing how their behaviour and attitudes were

affected by society.

"The Son's Veto" is a short story that focuses on a woman, Sophy, who

is torn between two conflicting social classes. Sophy is an uneducated

parlour maid who marries a man above her class to secure her future.

The son that is the outcome of the marriage is arrogant and self

centred. He acts as thought he is superior to his mother because of

his higher education and who he socialises with.

The relationship between Sophy and her son, Randolph, is poor because

they grew up in different classes. The thing that held their

relationship together was the father and husband. When he dies it is

as though the mother and son have nothing in common anymore. Social

attitudes have affected heir relationship because the mother cannot be

accepted into the son's class and the son will not be accepted into

the mother class because it will ruin his reputation.

At the beginning of the story, Hardy shows the social detachment

between Spohy and her son through the language he uses, "Has, dear

mother - not have!, exclaimed the public schoolboy". Hardy uses very

impersonal phrases to describe how Sophy is being treated as if she is

an object, "She was conducted out of the gardens and passed along the

pavements".

There is an expectation of how Sophy would be treated as a disabled

woman. She noticed how people were interested in her but she did not

mind, "did not mind gratifying their curiosity". Sophy is seen as the

barter of the male and not as an individual. This means society treats

her differently because of this as well as being disabled.

When Sophy is the par...

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son. It is Randolph's insecurities and shame over his mother that

leads him to control her life. In this way, as long as he is there to

supervise her actions, he can take those extra precautions to prevent

any social embarrassment that may be inflicted upon him by his mother.

Sophy does not necessarily recognize this fact, but is only willing to

put his needs and wants before her own. She also feels a sense of duty

and obligation towards Randolph and therefore accepts what he says as

being final. Ultimately, Sophy believes it is his happiness she needs

to ensure and secure, not her own. This, sadly, is how she leads her

life.

Hardy analyses the flaws existing in society today and gives a

fantastic example in showing how the "standards" set up by the public,

as well as the selfishness that prevails among the citizens in

society, destroyed Sophy's life.