How does Evelyn’s’ relationship with her mother develop over the book, and what are the strongest factors that influence it?
Evelyn is at first protective of her mother realizing that both have been wronged and disappointed by her father. Next she becomes annoyed when they have become destitute and go to live with Aunt Clara. Cecelia begins to suggest that they must take steps to reinstate their social status which requires the help of Lady Violet and Evelyn is forced to meet with her to help reaffirm their acceptance into high society. Then later Evelyn feels she must take matters into her own hands as far as improving their financial situation and has to sneak behind her mother’s back and tell lies to obtain and go to a job. Finally they realize together how they have been wronged and with the help of Aunt Clara, Evelyn helps her mother realize that she can be redeemed and that what has happened has not been her fault and that they can begin anew.
As the book went on Evelyn became more her own person and was less likely to do as her mother asked. In the beginning she tried to protect her mother, tried to listen to her mother and do as she wished, but as she found their position more in peril and her mother totally oblivious to what was really happening she took matters into her own hands, regardless of what her thought. Maybe akin to Victoria Thompson style of writing?
Evelyn was very protective of her Mother and I loved that. Her Mother was not a very likeable character, but towards the end of the book I loved the way the Mother was coming around to a more modern way of thinking.
In the beginning, I think Evelyn is protective of her mother because she doesn’t realize the extent of her father’s actions and how truly he doesn’t care about anyone except himself. She doesn’t realize what her father has done, how many years it has gone one, mostly because he was her father and she was a child. It’s hard for a child to admit when her father is a good-for-nothing. But she quickly realizes over the course of the story that she and her mother are on their own, and it is up to them to figure out a way to keep themselves afloat.