Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in My Oedipus Complex, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Father vs. Son
Coming of Age
Childhood and Adulthood
Summary
Analysis
Larry’s father served in World War I, which meant that Larry didn’t see him much until he turned five. In wartime, his father would come and go mysteriously “like Santa Claus.” When his father would visit, Larry would squeeze into bed with him and Larry’s mother, which was not an easy fit. When his father left, he would leave behind souvenirs from war—knives, bullet cases, badges—that Larry would rifle through.
The first five years of a child’s life play a large part in their development, foreshadowing that the long absences of Larry’s father will have a big influence on Larry. At this stage in Larry’s life, his father no more familiar to him than Santa Claus: Larry’s father is described only by his entrances and exits, and the trail of knickknacks he leaves behind.
Themes
Wartime was peaceful for Larry. In the mornings, he would wake with the dawn, full of energy, and gossip with Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right, nicknames he gives to his feet. Unable to get his mother to comply with his request for a baby, Larry vents to Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right; according to Larry’s mother, the family cannot afford a baby until his father returns home. Dismissing his mother as simple, Larry insists that their neighbors, the Geneys, recently had a baby, so there must be cheaper babies on the market than the one his mother wants.
O’Connor is quick to show that Larry’s character has many sides. Larry says that wartime is peaceful for him, revealing that he is too young and self-involved to understand issues outside of himself. Despite his lack of awareness, Larry is charismatic and imaginative, making clever use of his feet by talking to them as a way of working through problems. Both trusting and naïve, Larry believes his mother’s false explanation of buying babies. In addition to being a cute story, the anecdote about the Geneys makes Larry appear likeable and endearing. This strategic move primes the reader to root for Larry as the story progresses.
Themes
Larry grows accustomed to moving from his bed to his mother’s in the morning. Somewhere between warming up beside his mother, plotting out his day, and eating breakfast, Larry takes a brief nap. Each day, Larry accompanies his mother into town, running errands and attending mass. Following his mother’s example, Larry prays for the safe return of his father. “Little, indeed, did I know what I was praying for!” he remarks.
There is a stark contrast between how close Larry is to each of his parents: Larry defines his father by his absence and distance, but his mother by her presence and attention. Not being able to predict how his father’s homecoming will affect him, Larry simply does what his mother tells him and prays for his father to return safely. By adding the disclaimer, “Little, indeed, did I know what I was praying for!” Larry hints that the return of his father will be a disaster.
Themes
One morning, Larry wakes up to find his father in the master bed. When Larry sees his father change into a suit instead of his uniform, he realizes his father has returned for good. He’s less interesting to Larry this way. As Larry’s father speaks solemnly with his mother, Larry worries about her—anxiety makes her less pretty, he thinks. He interrupts his father several times, but each time his mother shushes him.
As soon as Larry sees his father as a civilian, the magic is gone—he’s no longer a Santa Claus-like presence, but rather a regular part of their life. Larry has no idea what his father is saying to his mother in this moment, concluding only that he doesn’t like the negative effect their discussion has on his mother’s appearance. To Larry’s parents, Larry’s interruptions are irritating; however, from Larry’s perspective, they are valiant attempts to keep his mother from getting upset and damaging her good looks.
Themes
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Larry’s mother has her husband take Larry on a walk through town, and Larry’s hopes for improved relations are quickly dashed. His father is not interested in things like trains and horses; instead, he wants to lean on walls and speak with men his own age. As Larry tries to get his father’s attention, his father ignores him, which makes Larry want to cry.
Larry’s mother senses that her son and husband would benefit from one-on-one bonding, but the outing she suggests does more to expose how disconnected Larry and his father are from each other than it does to bring them together. Larry’s father walks past the things Larry enjoys because he doesn’t know how to relate to his son. Like Larry struggles to adapt to his father’s return, Larry’s father clings to what is familiar; he is a soldier recently back from the war, so he feels more comfortable talking with adult men than with a son he barely knows. Because Larry perceives his father’s awkwardness as a rejection of him, he becomes angry and hurt.
Themes
At teatime, Larry’s mother and father converse again, with his father reading aloud from the newspaper. Larry feels that this is unfair; while he is prepared to fight his father for his mother’s attention, the newspaper gives his father built-in content for conversation. Nonetheless, Larry tries to change the subject a few times, but his mother shuts him down. From this, Larry decides that his father is either a better conversationalist than he, or that his father has ensnared his mother in an impossible trap.
Larry can’t separate his mother’s roles as a mother and wife, making him think that he and his father are rivals in a love triangle. Larry calls foul play when his father shares bits from the newspaper because his own reading ability is limited to a child’s level. Larry tries to combat this by offering new things to talk about, but he ultimately can’t accept that his mother wants to—and is able to—devote quality time to both him and his father.
Themes
Saying goodnight to his mother, Larry asks whether God might send his father back to war if he prayed for it. Larry’s mother thinks and then says no, because the war has ended. When Larry asks if God could make another war, his mother says that only “bad people” make wars, which makes Larry think that God isn’t worth the hype.
Larry finally has alone time with his mother, but chooses to make the discussion about his father: Larry’s father is not there, and Larry wants to keep it that way. When Larry’s mother answers his question, she masks any anger, shock, or heartbreak she may be feeling. Instead of fussing or laughing, she takes time to consider Larry’s reasons for wanting his father sent back to the war, showing her efforts to consider her son’s point of view.
Themes
The next morning, Larry wakes up full of energy and eager to share his plans with his mother. He climbs into bed, but finds his father taking up “more than his fair share” of room. He kicks his father to move him, but when he tries to speak with his mother, she tells him not to wake his father. “Poor daddy” is tired, she claims, which Larry finds an insufficient excuse. This conversation wakes Larry’s father, who seems grouchy. Larry is stunned when his mother speaks in a timid voice, trying to placate her husband by asking if he wants tea.
Larry complains that his father is taking up “more than his fair share” of the bed, when the truth is that Larry no longer has claim to his parents’ bed. To Larry’s parents, having Larry sleep in the big bed was a phase only made possible by Larry’s father being away at war; however, to Larry, sleeping in the big bed is all he’s ever known. This makes it even more jarring for Larry when his mother gushes about “poor daddy” and compromises Larry’s routine for his father’s convenience.
Themes
Previously, Larry told his mother that the two of them sharing a bed would be more efficient, but Larry’s mother said that having separate beds is “healthier.” Now, Larry is infuriated that his father shares his mother’s bed without any attention to her health.
Larry’s mother tries to tell Larry that it is “healthier”—meaning more natural—for a son to sleep separately from his mother, but Larry misunderstands her, thinking that it is bad for his mother’s physical health to share a bed with anyone. To Larry, his father sharing a bed with his mother is evidence of his father’s selfishness.
Themes
Larry’s father gets out of bed and brings tea for himself and for Larry’s mother. Larry wants a cup of tea, and his mother offers some of hers, but Larry isn’t satisfied; he wants to be treated “as an equal in my own home.” Out of spite, he drinks all his mother’s tea.
It doesn’t occur to Larry’s father extend his kind gesture to his son, making Larry feel left out. Larry’s mother thinks of her son and tries to include him, but it’s too late. Larry doesn’t want his mother’s scraps; he wants the same consideration his parents give to each other. Instead of confronting his father for excluding him, Larry immaturely punishes his mother (with passive aggression) for not being able to give him what he wants.
Themes
Larry’s mother tucks Larry in for the night, making him promise not to disturb “poor Daddy” in the morning. She reminds him of Miss MacCarthy at the Post Office, who gave the family their army pension during the war. Now that the war is over, Larry’s father must get a proper night’s rest so he can provide for the family—otherwise, they will have to beg. Larry understands the gravity of the situation, and he resolves to sleep in his own bed.
This exchange shows the mutual respect Larry and his mother have for each other. Larry’s mother doesn’t fuss at her son to stop interrupting his father’s sleep, but calmly explains why Larry’s father needs sleep. She lays out the family’s financial situation in a way that Larry can easily understand, and shows Larry that his actions are important. Larry responds maturely by considering the issue, and he decides to cooperate for his family’s sake, which shows his increasing ability to consider the needs of others.
Themes
Even though he tries, Larry can’t resist the temptation of going to his parents’ bed. Larry’s mother permits him to stay so long as he doesn’t talk. Not accepting this, Larry says that his father should have his own bed since he wants to sleep and Larry wants to talk. He kicks his father, jolting him awake. When his mother tries to lift him and return him to his room, Larry begins shrieking in protest.
Even though his mother offers him half of what he wants, Larry refuses to compromise. He is fed up with his father intruding on his relationship with his mother, so he resorts to literally kicking him out. Larry interprets being picked up by his mother as a sign that she has chosen Larry’s father over him, so he screams at the whole situation.
Themes
Larry’s father shouts at his son and says that it’s time for Larry to break his habit of throwing tantrums. Stunned at his father’s new and startling tone, Larry stops his screaming. He ignores his father’s threat to spank him, telling him to spank himself. Larry’s father delivers a lifeless spanking as Larry’s mother watches in dismay. After this humiliation, Larry comes to two conclusions: that his father must be jealous of Larry, and that his mother deserves to feel pain for being stuck in the middle.
This is the first time anyone has threatened Larry without coddling him, which wounds Larry’s pride. Since Larry’s father has chosen to yell at his son in a more grownup way, Larry responds by ignoring his father’s authority and yelling back. The presence of Larry’s mother saves Larry from a harsher spanking, but Larry still blames her; Larry thinks that if his mother had sided with him sooner, he wouldn’t have been humiliated at all. After demonstrating so much indifference toward his son, Larry’s father finally unleashes his feelings, causing Larry to realize that he isn’t alone in his jealousy.
Themes
The aftermath of Larry’s spanking is gruesome. Larry and his father shamelessly scheme to steal the attention of Larry’s mother. After Larry’s father catches Larry going through his war curios, he becomes upset. Larry’s mother mediates by reminding Larry that, since his father doesn’t play with his toys, Larry should not play with “Daddy’s toys” unless given permission. Larry’s father pouts that his prized belongings are not toys.
O’Connor reminds the reader that one doesn’t have to be a child to act like a child. In wanting to maintain his wife’s affection, Larry’s father reverts to juvenile behavior. When Larry’s mother tries to explain the golden rule to Larry, she refers to her husband’s war curios as “Daddy’s toys.” Rather than taking this moment to learn about Larry and appreciate his wife’s efforts to arbitrate, Larry’s father sulks like an angst-filled adolescent, all because his wife doesn’t recognize the significance of his property.
Themes
Larry tries to figure out what makes his father so appealing to his mother. Even though Larry thinks he himself is a better catch, he tries to take up some of his father’s habits. He makes up pieces of news to share with his mother, and tries smoking his father’s pipes until he gets caught. Larry starts spying on his parents to investigate their sleeping habits. He pretends to talk to himself so that his parents won’t catch on to his snooping, but he is disappointed when “they were never up to anything that [Larry] could see.”
Even though Larry insists that he is superior to his father, he begins to model himself after him. Larry says that he is only copying his father’s habits to beat him at his own game, but the close attention he pays to his father shows that he might not dislike him as much as he thinks—in fact, maybe he does want to be more like his father. When Larry spies on his mother and father in bed, he thinks that he’s outsmarted his parents by creating a cover. It never occurs to him that the reason he fails to see anything is that Larry’s parents have modified their behavior whenever they know Larry is watching them.
Themes
Larry proclaims in front of both parents that he is going to marry his mother. His father laughs in disbelief, while his mother smiles and responds, “Won’t that be nice?” Larry agrees, saying that he and his mother will have lots of babies. Larry’s mother pledges that a baby should be along shortly to give Larry a companion. Larry is satisfied that his mother is finally respecting what he wants.
All Larry knows is that he loves his mother and wants to insult his father. He hasn’t the slightest idea about marriage or baby making, but is pleased at the reactions he gets from his parents. Larry sees his father’s dismissive laugh as acknowledgement of Larry as a viable threat. When Larry’s mother reacts positively to Larry’s proposal and confirms that there will be a new baby, Larry finally feels validated, showing how juvenile he still is. Getting his wish of his father coming home didn’t make his life better, which should give him some clue that getting his wish about the baby might be similarly complicated.
Themes
The new baby arrives. Much to Larry’s surprise and displeasure, Sonny cries constantly and rarely sleeps. Tired of hearing “Don’t-wake-Sonny!” Larry pinches his baby brother when his mother isn’t looking in order to recalibrate his sleeping schedule. His mother punishes Larry and becomes more impatient with him.
Sonny is a baby, making him selfish, demanding, and immune to Larry’s influence. Larry resents Sonny for stealing his mother’s attention, and blames him for sleeping on a different schedule. When his mother disciplines him for pinching the baby, Larry becomes even more upset that Sonny has managed to widen the gap between him and his mother—Sonny, it seems, is the new threat in the house.
Themes
Larry is playing in the garden when he sees his father come home from work. Larry pretends to talk to himself, threatening to walk out “if another bloody baby comes into [Larry’s] house.” Larry’s father overhears and gives Larry a warning, but Larry insists that it doesn’t count since he was only chatting with himself. Larry’s father begins to be nicer to Larry. This is not surprising to him, since his mother is acting silly and gives all her attention to Sonny. Larry senses camaraderie with his father, praising his “fine intelligence” and ability to see past Sonny’s cries for attention.
When Larry’s father overhears Larry’s threat to leave the house if another baby comes, he makes a show of letting Larry know that what he said isn’t acceptable. Underneath his stern reply, however, Larry’s father sees that Larry is having a hard time adjusting to Sonny’s arrival, so he starts treating Larry with more kindness. Larry doesn’t see a connection between what he said and his father’s new behavior, believing that the sudden change is due to his mother’s sickening attitude about Sonny. Larry is convinced that the enemy of his enemy is his friend, and since Sonny is now his enemy and his father is also Sonny’s enemy, Larry believes that he and his father now have something in common.
Themes
A startled Larry wakes up one evening to find that he is not alone in his bed. He thinks that his mother has finally “come to her senses and left Father for good.” After hearing her voice comforting a crying Sonny in the next room, Larry realizes it isn’t his mother beside him. He sees his father, “wide awake, breathing hard and apparently as mad as hell.” Larry feels a rush of compassion, realizing that now his father was the one being kicked out of bed for another man (or, in this case, the new baby). Larry comforts his father.
Even though Larry is starting to think better of his father, he is willing to toss him aside at a moment’s notice if his mother chooses Larry. When Larry finds his father in such a foul mood, he suddenly flips out of pity. Larry equates his experience of being thrown out of the big bed to his father’s. He doesn’t understand that his father is choosing to leave in order to avoid Sonny’s crying, and thinks that his mother has simply phased both of them out for the newest man in her life. Despite his misunderstanding, Larry treats his father with compassion, letting go of his anger toward him. This shows Larry’s growing empathy, a sign of maturity.
Themes
Larry’s father grumpily inquires why Larry is also awake, and Larry asks his father to hug him. Larry’s father begrudgingly puts his arm around his son. His arm is bony, but Larry is nonetheless comforted. Larry shares that, the following Christmas, his father “went out of his way” to buy an expensive model railway for Larry.
Larry’s father is unsure of how to respond to Larry comforting him, but he does his best to show his son affection. His arm is bony but better than nothing, paralleling his efforts to bond with Larry: the process is off to a somewhat awkward start, but still holds promise. Larry confirms that he and his father have gradually grown closer since then, ending his story by recognizing the thoughtful Christmas gift his father bought for him.
Themes
