My Oedipus Complex

by

Frank O’Connor

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Mother (Mummy) Character Analysis

Only referred to as “Mother” or “Mummy,” Larry’s mother cares for Larry while her husband serves in World War I. For the first five years of her son’s life, she shows Larry a great deal of affection. She lets him sleep in her bed, listens to his stories, and brings him into town to run errands, attend mass, and visit family friends. When Larry’s father returns home from the war, Larry’s mother must reconcile her roles as a wife and mother. She attempts to split her time, giving her husband her full attention when he shares news from the evening paper, while continuing to spend private time with Larry when tucking him into bed. Larry’s mother also attempts to spur a connection between Larry and his father by encouraging them to go on a walk through town together. When this fails, Larry’s mother must mediate between them during their quibbles over tea, sleep, and, ultimately, her. After an intense fight between Larry and his father results in Larry’s spanking, Larry’s mother is heartbroken at being caught in the middle of the two people closest to her. After giving birth to Sonny, Larry’s mother shifts her attention to the new baby, much to the irritation of Larry and his father. Though he often misjudges her as “simpleminded,” Larry recalls his mother as being a warm and comforting figure.

Mother (Mummy) Quotes in My Oedipus Complex

The My Oedipus Complex quotes below are all either spoken by Mother (Mummy) or refer to Mother (Mummy). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Father vs. Son Theme Icon
).
My Oedipus Complex Quotes

The war was the most peaceful period of my life.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right
Page Number: 283
Explanation and Analysis:

Ours was the only house in the terrace without a new baby, and Mother said we couldn’t afford one till Father came back from the war because they cost seventeen and six. That showed how simple she was.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), The Geneys
Page Number: 283
Explanation and Analysis:

Father had an extraordinary capacity for amiable inattention. I sized him up and wondered would I cry, but he seemed to be too remote to be annoyed even by that.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 285
Explanation and Analysis:

“It’s not God who makes wars, but bad people.”

Related Characters: Mother (Mummy) (speaker), Larry, Father (Daddy, Mick)
Page Number: 285
Explanation and Analysis:

I was sickened by the sentimentality of her “poor Daddy.” I never liked that sort of gush; it always struck me as insincere.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 286
Explanation and Analysis:

I simply longed for the warmth and depth of the big featherbed.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis:

“Mummy,” I said with equal firmness. “I think it would be healthier for Daddy to sleep in his own bed.”

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis:

All his previous shouting was as nothing to these obscene words referring to my person. They really made my blood boil. “Smack your own!” I screamed hysterically. “Smack your own! Shut up! Shut up!”

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 289
Explanation and Analysis:

[…] but the sheer indignity of being struck at all by a stranger, a total stranger who had cajoled his way back from the war into our big bed as a result of my innocent intercession, made me completely dotty.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 289
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m going to marry you,” I said quietly. Father gave a great guffaw out of him, but he didn’t take me in. I knew it must only be pretense. And Mother, in spite of everything, was pleased. I felt she was probably relieved to know that one day Father’s hold on her would be broken.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 290
Explanation and Analysis:

I couldn’t understand why the child wouldn’t sleep at the proper time, so whenever Mother’s back was turned I woke him.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Sonny
Page Number: 291
Explanation and Analysis:

It was his turn now. After turning me out of the big bed, he had been turned out himself.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Sonny
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 292
Explanation and Analysis:
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My Oedipus Complex PDF

Mother (Mummy) Quotes in My Oedipus Complex

The My Oedipus Complex quotes below are all either spoken by Mother (Mummy) or refer to Mother (Mummy). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Father vs. Son Theme Icon
).
My Oedipus Complex Quotes

The war was the most peaceful period of my life.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right
Page Number: 283
Explanation and Analysis:

Ours was the only house in the terrace without a new baby, and Mother said we couldn’t afford one till Father came back from the war because they cost seventeen and six. That showed how simple she was.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), The Geneys
Page Number: 283
Explanation and Analysis:

Father had an extraordinary capacity for amiable inattention. I sized him up and wondered would I cry, but he seemed to be too remote to be annoyed even by that.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 285
Explanation and Analysis:

“It’s not God who makes wars, but bad people.”

Related Characters: Mother (Mummy) (speaker), Larry, Father (Daddy, Mick)
Page Number: 285
Explanation and Analysis:

I was sickened by the sentimentality of her “poor Daddy.” I never liked that sort of gush; it always struck me as insincere.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 286
Explanation and Analysis:

I simply longed for the warmth and depth of the big featherbed.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis:

“Mummy,” I said with equal firmness. “I think it would be healthier for Daddy to sleep in his own bed.”

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis:

All his previous shouting was as nothing to these obscene words referring to my person. They really made my blood boil. “Smack your own!” I screamed hysterically. “Smack your own! Shut up! Shut up!”

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 289
Explanation and Analysis:

[…] but the sheer indignity of being struck at all by a stranger, a total stranger who had cajoled his way back from the war into our big bed as a result of my innocent intercession, made me completely dotty.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 289
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m going to marry you,” I said quietly. Father gave a great guffaw out of him, but he didn’t take me in. I knew it must only be pretense. And Mother, in spite of everything, was pleased. I felt she was probably relieved to know that one day Father’s hold on her would be broken.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy)
Page Number: 290
Explanation and Analysis:

I couldn’t understand why the child wouldn’t sleep at the proper time, so whenever Mother’s back was turned I woke him.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Sonny
Page Number: 291
Explanation and Analysis:

It was his turn now. After turning me out of the big bed, he had been turned out himself.

Related Characters: Larry (speaker), Father (Daddy, Mick), Mother (Mummy), Sonny
Related Symbols: The Beds
Page Number: 292
Explanation and Analysis: