In the son's veto Hardy manipulates
the reader into thinking that the
mother is submissive to the son and
that the men have power when in
fact the women can make their own
choices. They just have been thought
that they should be submissive to
men
main idea 1: the son is trying to
control the mother's life
He hoped his stepfather would be a
gentleman, he said. (line 8-9)
the son only cares about himself, he
does not really care if her mother is
happy or not. He would be capable of
arranging an arranged marriage for
his mother just to get higher in the
society
Main idea 2: The mother is
submissive to her son and maybe
this is why her son is like that
main idea 3: if the mother
dies it is not only her son's
fault but also het fault
because in the end it was her
life and her decisions
She on her side was more
persistent, ... (line 42)
the mother is more persistent and
this means that if she really wanted
she would have gone and married
her true love. This might be also
because she loves her son
Why mayn't I say to Sam I'llmarry
him? Why mayn't I? (line 55-56)
The mother tried to resist again. This
shows that if she really wanted to do
what she said than she would have
continued persisting.
concluding sentance
His mother went up to him, kissed
all of his face, that she could get at...
(line 13)
The mother, Sophie is also acting like if
the son has all power.
Say no more-perhaps I am wrong! I
will struggle gainst it! (line 22)
The mother knows she can not win
against her son and gives up but still
hopes that he will understand her and
let her marry her ove.
concluding sentence
she answered timidly... (line 9)
She is kind of frightened of her son
because she probably knows that now
that her son was educated like that by
her he will no be more sensitive.
... ousted his humaity to keep him
quite firm. (line 50)
The son in the contrary becomes
more and more aggressive and
possessive. He has no heart and no
compassion for his mother. He
probably thinks that it is always the
other's fault.
I am ashamed of you! It will ruin me!
A miserable boor! a churl!It will
degrade me in the eyes of all the
gentlemen of England! (line 21-23)
He does not really want his mother to
get married partially in respect for his
father, he does not want his mother to
have another man in her life than him
and because the man in question is not
as rich as him
Concluding sentence
...but would not agree. (...) he had
doubts whether she could be trusted
in his absence. (line 42-43)
Now he does not want to leave his
mother alone because he is frightened
that she will betray him. This shows his
want of power again