“Mother” by Grace Paley: Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Mother” by Grace Paley

The short story “Mother” by Grace Paley first appeared as part of her collection “Enormous Changes at the Last Minute” in 1974. While initially overshadowed by more overtly political works of the feminist movement, such as those of Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde, Paley’s unique narrative style, which blends humor and political commentary with vivid descriptions of everyday life, has contributed to the enduring popularity of “Enormous Changes at the Last Minute” among literary scholars and readers alike. Within this collection, “Mother” stands out as a particularly noteworthy story, offering a poignant and insightful exploration of the complex dynamics between a mother and her adult daughter, and the tensions that arise when the daughter asserts her independence. Paley employs stream-of-consciousness narration and sharp dialogue, which add depth and nuance to the portrayal, making it a valuable contribution to feminist literature.

Main Events in “Mother” by Grace Paley

1. A song triggers memories: The narrator hears the song “Oh, I Long to See My Mother in the Doorway” on the radio, sparking memories of her deceased mother.
2. Mother’s concern: The narrator recalls moments when her mother stood in doorways, filled with worry about her daughter’s future.
3. A political disagreement: The narrator remembers a political argument with her mother, where her mother dismisses her idealism with past experience.
4. Mother’s final admonishment: The narrator recounts her mother’s frustrations regarding unfinished meals and a frenetic lifestyle.
5. Mother passes away: The stark line “Then she died” marks the shift in the story.
6. Lingering longing: The narrator yearns to see her mother in everyday settings, places they frequently shared.
7. Shared moments with father: The narrator envisions her parents together, reliving their early years of immigration and the joy of their achievements.
8. Wish to see mother again: The narrator wishes her mother could join her father as they listen to music, a moment of connection her mother desires.
9. Conversation with father: The narrator witnesses her mother’s wish for conversation contrasted with her father’s exhaustion after a long work day.
10. Mother’s passing (revisited): The story ends with the reminder of the mother’s death, emphasizing the permanent nature of loss.

Literary Devices in “Mother” by Grace Paley

·  Imagery: Paley employs vivid imagery to create a poignant atmosphere.

• Example: “…the darkness of the hallway behind her” suggests a sense of uncertainty and the looming presence of the unknown.
• Effect: Contributes to the bittersweet tone, hinting at the mother’s worries and the eventual finality of death.

·  Flashback: Non-linear narrative structure incorporates flashbacks.

• Example: “She stood one day, just so, at the front door…It was New Year’s Day.”
• Effect: Enriches the characterization of the mother and the daughter, revealing the complexities of their relationship.

·  Juxtaposition: Contrasting elements are placed in close proximity.

• Example: The mother’s anxieties about the future juxtaposed with the daughter’s youthful idealism.
• Effect: Highlights generational differences and the inevitable friction within family dynamics.

·  Metaphor: The image of the doorway functions as a central metaphor.

• Example: The repeated motif of the mother in the doorway.
• Effect: Symbolizes transitions, the mother’s watchful presence, and ultimately, an inaccessible passage to the past.

·  Dialogue: Authentic dialogue shapes characterization and relationships.

• Example: “If you come home at 4 a.m. when you’re seventeen, what time will you come home when you’re twenty?”
• Effect: Reveals the mother’s genuine concern and hints at a generational divide.

·  Repetition: Certain phrases and lines are repeated for emphasis.

• Example: “What will become of you?” and “Then she died”.
• Effect: Underscores the mother’s constant worry and reinforces the stark reality of loss.

·  Symbolism: The song “Oh, I Long to See My Mother in the Doorway” serves as a powerful symbol.

• Effect: Embodies the narrator’s enduring longing and the ache of absence.

·  Tone: Paley utilizes shifts in tone throughout the story.

• Effect: Reflects the multifaceted nature of memory and grief, moving between nostalgia, humor, and a lingering sense of sorrow.

·  Point of View: First-person perspective offers an intimate view.

• Effect: Deepens the emotional impact by allowing the reader to experience the daughter’s personal reflections and complex feelings towards her mother.

·  Allusion: The reference to the Russian Revolution in 1905.

• Effect: Adds historical context to the mother’s experiences, suggesting a life marked by both hardship and resilience.

·  Diction: Colloquial language adds a realistic touch.

• Effect: Reflects the mother’s authentic voice and strengthens the sense of intimacy within the family.

·  Fragmentation: Short sentences and disjointed thoughts.

• Effect: Mirrors the fragmented nature of memory and the sometimes elusive process of recalling the past.

·  Irony: The mother’s anxieties about the narrator’s future are undercut by her own death.

• Effect: Underscores the unpredictability of life and the tragedy of unrealized expectations.

·  Theme: The story explores profound themes including familial bonds, the complexities of loss, the enduring power of memory, and the human longing for connection.

Characterization in “Mother” by Grace Paley

The Narrator

• Reflective: The narrator’s memories and contemplation form the backbone of the story, revealing a deep engagement with her past.
• Longing: She expresses an enduring longing for the presence of her deceased mother.
• Initially Idealistic: Her youthful idealism, particularly evident in her political views, contrasts sharply with her mother’s pragmatic outlook.
• Gains Appreciation with Time: The narrator develops a greater appreciation for her parents’ struggles and achievements as she reflects on their lives.

The Mother

• Worrying and Protective: Her anxieties about the narrator’s future are a constant theme, reflected in her questions and concerns.
• Pragmatic and Realistic: Shaped by her experiences, the mother prioritizes practicality and dismisses naive idealism.
• Direct and Outspoken: Her communication style includes blunt assessments and a focus on immediate concerns.
• Desires Connection: Beneath her practical nature lies a yearning for emotional connection, especially with her husband.

Major Themes in “Mother” by Grace Paley

• The Complex Bond Between Mother and Daughter:

• The mother’s repeated questions and worries: “If you come home at 4 a.m. when you’re seventeen, what time will you come home when you’re twenty?”
• Political disagreement highlighting differing perspectives: “Go to sleep for godsakes, you damn fool, you and your Communist ideas. We saw them already, Papa and me, in 1905.”

·  The Enduring Nature of Loss and Grief:

• Lamenting her mother’s absence: “Then she died.”
• Profound longing expressed: “Naturally for the rest of my life I longed to see her…”

·  The Power of Memory and its Role in Shaping Identity:

• The story is a series of remembered moments sparked by a song.
• Idealized vision of parents together, revisiting their past joys: “They looked at one another amazed. It seemed to them that they’d just come over on the boat.”

·  Generational Differences and the Clash Between Idealism and Experience:

• The narrator’s youthful idealism contrasted with her mother’s weathered pragmatism.
• References to historical events like the Russian Revolution as a source of the mother’s perspective.

·  The Search for Connection Within Family:

• The mother’s desire for conversation: “Talk to me a little. We don’t talk so much anymore.”
• The narrator’s longing for her mother’s presence in familiar places and everyday moments.

Writing Style in “Mother” by Grace Paley

1. First-Person Perspective: Creates intimacy and allows the reader to deeply engage with the narrator’s subjective memories and emotional experiences.
2. Stream-of-Consciousness: Short, fragmented sentences mimic the disjointed nature of memory and the narrator’s thought process.
3. Colloquial Language: Authentic, everyday speech patterns enhance realism and create a sense of familiarity with the characters.
4. Conversational Tone: The directness and informal feel of the writing invite the reader into a personal conversation with the narrator.
5. Vivid Imagery: Sensory details, particularly in the descriptions of the mother, bring the narrative to life and resonate with the reader.
6. Symbolism: Key symbols, such as the doorway and the song, offer depth and multilayered meanings.
7. Understated Emotion: Paley relies on subtle emotional cues and poignant moments, rather than overt sentimentality, to convey the complex themes of loss, longing, and familial bonds.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Mother” by Grace Paley

Literary Theory	Key Concepts	Interpretation of “Mother”
Feminist Theory	Gender roles, power dynamics, female experience	Focuses on the complex relationship between mother and daughter. Highlights the mother’s anxieties and constraints within the domestic sphere, as well as her understated desires.
Psychoanalytic Theory	The unconscious, dreams, repressed desires	Analyzes the symbolism in the story (doorway, song) as potential manifestations of the narrator’s unconscious longing and unresolved feelings towards her mother.
Reader-Response Theory	Role of the reader in constructing meaning	Emphasizes the reader’s personal experiences and emotional responses in shaping their interpretation of the story’s themes of loss, memory, and family.
New Historicism	Cultural and historical context	Examines the story against the backdrop of Jewish immigrant experiences, generational differences, and working-class life, providing insights into the characters’ perspectives.
Marxist Theory	Class structures, economic disparity, power dynamics	Although not the central focus of the story, a Marxist reading could explore subtle power imbalances within the family or highlight the father’s position as a doctor within a broader socioeconomic context.

Questions and Thesis Statements about “Mother” by Grace Paley

Potential Areas of Analysis

• The Dynamics of the Mother-Daughter Bond: A close examination of the complexities within this relationship, including themes of love, conflict, evolving perspectives, and the mother’s anxieties.
• Memory, Grief, and Reconciliation: Analysis of how memory functions throughout the narrative, shaping the narrator’s understanding of her mother, the nature of grief, and the process of reconciling with loss.
• Contrasting Worldviews and the Immigrant Experience: Investigate the generational tensions between the narrator’s idealism and the mother’s pragmatism, considering the influence of historical events and the immigrant experience on their perspectives.
• Literary Significance of the Everyday: Exploration of how Paley utilizes seemingly mundane moments, authentic dialogue, and vivid imagery to offer a poignant and nuanced depiction of familial relationships.

Research Questions

• How does Paley employ literary devices (symbolism, imagery, flashbacks, etc.) to illuminate the multifaceted nature of the mother-daughter relationship?
• In what ways does the story’s fragmented structure reflect the disjointed nature of memory and the narrator’s experience of grief?
• How does the cultural and historical context of the Jewish immigrant experience shape the characters’ perspectives and the narrative trajectory of the story?
• To what extent does the narrator’s understanding of her parents transform throughout the course of the story?

Sample Thesis Statements

• In “Mother,” Grace Paley utilizes a fragmented narrative style and evocative imagery to underscore the enduring power of memory, emphasize the complexities of loss, and trace the evolution of a mother-daughter relationship.
• Grace Paley’s “Mother” delves into the clash between a daughter’s youthful idealism and her mother’s experience-shaped pragmatism, offering a nuanced exploration of generational differences within the context of a Jewish immigrant family.
• Though grounded in ordinary moments, Grace Paley’s “Mother” subtly exposes the power dynamics and unspoken yearnings within a family, providing a complex commentary on gender roles and the constraints of domestic life.

Short Question-Answer About “Mother” by Grace Paley

• How does the motif of the doorway shape the story’s themes?
• The doorway is a potent symbol of transition and longing. The mother often stands in doorways, representing both her protective vigilance and the unattainable barrier between life and death. The narrator’s wish to see her mother in the doorway again (“I wish I could see her in the doorway of the living room”) underscores the irreversible nature of loss and her enduring yearning.
• Analyze the mother’s concerns about her daughter’s future.
• The mother’s constant questions (“What will become of you?”) reflect deep-seated anxieties about her daughter’s well-being, a fear potentially amplified by her own experience of hardship as an immigrant. Her worries highlight a generational tension between youthful autonomy and the mother’s desperate desire to safeguard her daughter’s future.
• How does Paley use dialogue to reveal character?
• Dialogue is crucial in the story. The mother’s direct, sometimes blunt speech (“Go to sleep for godsakes, you damn fool…”) contrasts with the narrator’s more introspective voice. Their exchanges exhibit the friction within the mother-daughter bond but also reveal hidden moments of vulnerability and longing for connection.
• What is the significance of music in the story?
• Music serves as a respite for the weary father (“Listen to the music…I’m tired, he said.”). Its beauty contrasts with his exhausting profession, emphasizing his need for rejuvenation. The mother’s wish for conversation reveals a yearning for emotional connection that music cannot fully satisfy, adding a bittersweet layer to their relationship.

Literary Works Similar to “Mother” by Grace Paley

1. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Tan’s exploration of complex mother-daughter relationships resonates strongly with Paley’s work. Both writers delve into the impacts of cultural differences, generational tensions, and unresolved histories that shape familial bonds.
2. Ordinary People by Judith Guest: Guest’s novel examines the profound and lasting impact of loss and grief within a family unit. Like “Mother,” this work portrays the struggle for communication, reconciliation, and the search for normalcy in the wake of tragedy.
3. Selected Stories by Alice Munro: Munro shares Paley’s mastery of the short story form. Both writers offer nuanced and empathetic portrayals of seemingly ordinary lives, revealing depth in everyday moments. Their stories often explore complex female experiences, family dynamics, and the enduring power of memory.
4. The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston: Kingston’s blend of memoir, myth, and vivid imagery creates a powerful exploration of Chinese-American identity, gender expectations, and the clash of generations. Like “Mother,” her work utilizes a fragmented narrative style to mirror the disjointed and multifaceted nature of memory and personal identity.

Suggested Readings: “Mother” by Grace Paley

Books

• Bloom, Harold, editor. Grace Paley: Modern Critical Views. Chelsea House Publishers, 2008. (Offers a collection of critical perspectives on Paley’s work)
• Gubar, Susan. Critical Condition: Feminism, History, and the Developmental Narrative. Princeton University Press, 2000. (Includes a chapter dedicated to Paley’s contributions to feminist narratives)
• Walker, Nancy. Feminist Alternatives: Reading Feminist Poetics. University of Virginia Press, 1990. (Provides analysis of Paley’s writing from a feminist literary perspective)

Articles

• Arcana, Judith. Grace Paley’s Life Stories: A Literary Mother’s Legacies. Twayne Publishers, 1993. (Focuses specifically on the themes of motherhood and female experience in Paley’s writing)
• Pinsker, Sanford. “Grace Paley’s Mothers and Daughters.” Studies in American Jewish Literature, vol. 10, no. 2, Kent State University Press, 1991, pp. 142-149. (Exploration of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships in Paley’s work)

Websites

• The Grace Paley Resource Site: https://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-the-collected-stories-of-grace-paley/ (Includes critical essays, author biography, and further resources)
• Jewish Women’s Archive: http://jwa.org/ (Provides context for Paley’s work within Jewish women’s history and literature)