the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

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her existence merely in terms of the functions she is
expected to perfonn, images of mother as "servant", "door
mat" (SBD: 92) ; as "invalid" (SBD: 851 , as "grindstone"
(SBD:87); as "nurse" (SBD:91), as 'prisoner or slave"
(SBD:901, and the image of mother as pacifier - ',the oilpourer,
the balancer, the all-purpose famlly comforter"
(SBD 204). Kate plays her different roles as if she is
"trying on ideas like so many dresses off a rack" (SBD:66)
Like the dresses off the rack, the role of wlfe and mother
are also unsulted for her, they are 111-fltting and
unsatisfying
5.5.9.8. Meridian opens wlth the Image of the 'mummy' who
1s described as an 'obedient daughter', 'devoted wife',
'adoring mother' and a 'goddess' iM.5-6) There 1s a
caustlc comment on the stereotyped lmage of woman prolected
in magazines. "woman was a mindless body, a sex creature,
something to hang false hair and nails on" (M.651 The
femrnine mocher, Mrs Hl11, who suppresses both her anger and
love and channels them lnto her househod dutles expends all
her energy Into "the lronlng of her children's clothes"
(M:73)
5.5.9.9. Amy's "mama's song" in Beloved reverberates wlth
echoes of a "cradle" in a "quiet cozy home" (B:100) --- thus
reiterating the association of the mother with serenity,