The Beds Symbol Analysis

The beds in Larry’s house represent emotional connection between members of the family; those who share a bed are close, and those who are removed from bed are growing apart. At the beginning of the story, while Larry’s father is away at war, Larry and his mother share a bed. Not coincidentally, this is the period in the story when they are closest; Larry tells his mother all his ideas, troubles, and schemes, and she listens and devotes herself solely to him. After Larry’s father returns from the war, however, he reclaims his side of the bed to rekindle his connection with Larry’s mother. Larry tries to sleep between them, but complains of his father taking up “more than his fair share of the bed.” On several occasions, Larry complains of the “uncomfortable squeeze” between his parents, implying that the bed is only comfortably suited for two people. The limited amount of space in the master bed mirrors the way Larry’s mother has limited capacity for emotional connection. Just as three people cannot fit in the bed, Larry’s mother cannot devote all of herself to both her husband and her son, even if both of them demand this. Furthermore, once Sonny is born, his mother channels all of her attention to the baby, and the family’s sleeping arrangements reflect this change. Larry, who has distanced himself from his mother for her increasing strictness and “silly” behavior, is back to sleeping in his own bed, while Larry’s father has also grown apart from his wife as she has paid more attention to the baby. One night, when Sonny is sleeping in the master bed, Larry’s father decides to sleep next to Larry in Larry’s bed. For Larry and his father to share a bed marks the start of their friendship; by sharing a bed, they are—both literally and symbolically—getting closer.