The main character of any story is usually the one who is most easily sympathized with because we, as readers, follow their train of thought and their actions. We understand them more than any other character because we are given situations from their perspective. In “The Enduring Chill”, Asbury is not a sympathetic character. He is nasty, rude and downright unappreciative, especially towards his own mother. He treats her with such disrespect; it would be more believable to consider her a complete stranger than to accept she is his mother simply as a result of the way she is treated. The very first words he says to his mother are, “I don’t feel like talking” (O’Connor 547). Who knows how long it has been since that last time he talked to or even saw his mother and the first thing he says is this rude comment. No ‘thank you’ or ‘I missed you mom’, instead he shows his true colors right up front.
The character I sympathize with in this story is the mother. Mrs. Fox is very understanding and kind in spite of how she is treated by her own son. We see her through Asbury’s eyes and this further proves how she is the most sympathetic character. He shows us just how strong and beautiful she really is. In the end Asbury gets what he deserves; he does not die. Instead, he is left to live with himself and ‘the enduring chill’ of the consequences of his selfish actions.
1 comment:
While I do symphasize with the mother--especially when the first words out of Asbury's mouth are "I don't feel like talking"-- but I do wonder how Asbury came to be the way he is. You are right; he is rude and disrespectful and nasty, but isn't his sister also rude and nasty? She mocks and ridicules her brother the entire way home in the car ride and even disregards her brother's death as improbable and a not likely to occur. She barely shows remorse for his sickeness. Asbury, then, is not the "bad egg" of the family. Both of Mrs. Fox's children grew to be unmannered and mean. In psychology, we learn that the parents play a huge part in the development of their children. In a sense, they act as models to them. Children copy their parents' behavior, speech, and lifestyle. Mrs. Fox would have been the model to her children...so, part of me wonders whether there is actually some substance in Asbury's claim that his mother ruined his life. The unresolved mystery of what actually happened between them seems ignites the idea that Mrs. Fox, perhaps, does have some blame in her son's character flaws. She allowed him to behave as he did. She allowed him to go against the structure of Southern hospitality. Where was her discipline? Her punishments? Her parenting....?
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