Through Dream Boy, Nathan's mother is rarely seen and even more rarely heard. She is confined to the shadows of her life, which in her defense is not easy. The time period that this book is set in did not over women, especially in rural areas, many choices. Nathan's mother is presumably very economically dependent on her husband who is abusive and an alcoholic. She is also physically dependent on him to go out and work for them. This is not to say that it is impossible for her to give by on her own and provide safety for Nathan because it isn't. But she is living in a culture that silences and devalues her.
In the novel, there are many instances where the mother is described as being "invisible" which is not only reflective of her position, but also shows how vulnerable Nathan is to his father. Because she is constantly trying to distance herself from her reality, she leaves Nathan wide open to his abusive father. Nathan is suffering immensely, as we can in the text, but I think that his mother is also suffering to an extent because she is so complicit in his abuse.
Her silence and "disinterest" is a coping mechanism; it is her means of survival. Mother's are supposed to protect and nurture their children, but she has been stripped of this purpose. She has no agency to support herself or Nathan. This alienation, I argue, precipitates her subsequent distance from her family life. She is only going through the motions because the pain she is experiencing not being able to protect her son. This does not fully justify her inaction, because if there's a will, there's a way. But I do believe that in order to understand her part in Nathan's abuse, we must understand why she such a silent, passive character.
In the novel, there are many instances where the mother is described as being "invisible" which is not only reflective of her position, but also shows how vulnerable Nathan is to his father. Because she is constantly trying to distance herself from her reality, she leaves Nathan wide open to his abusive father. Nathan is suffering immensely, as we can in the text, but I think that his mother is also suffering to an extent because she is so complicit in his abuse.
Her silence and "disinterest" is a coping mechanism; it is her means of survival. Mother's are supposed to protect and nurture their children, but she has been stripped of this purpose. She has no agency to support herself or Nathan. This alienation, I argue, precipitates her subsequent distance from her family life. She is only going through the motions because the pain she is experiencing not being able to protect her son. This does not fully justify her inaction, because if there's a will, there's a way. But I do believe that in order to understand her part in Nathan's abuse, we must understand why she such a silent, passive character.
Although the mothers silence could be considered a coping mechanism, I agree it still doesn't mean that it is right. Although she might be dependent on her husband financially, only means she values money over her life and her sons life. She doesn't even explore options to save her child which is miserable. She has the chance to be a hero and save a child's life, but she has become so comfortable with her situation that she would rather do what is easy than what is right.
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