When Beth visits Gabriel’s home during the school holiday, she’s met by his mother, Tessa, who proceeds to manipulate the young woman (p. 284). Do you think she’s acting in Gabriel’s best interests, or just being cruel? If you were Tessa, what would you have done? What would you have done in Beth’s position?
Tessa’s words and behavior seemed stereotypical. This portrayal of upper and lower class has been written in many novels. Beth could have questioned Gabriel about his intentions rather than abruptly leaving him at Oxford but then there wouldn’t have been a story.
I think she is very cruel. She thought Beth was never good enough for Gabriel. Her son deserved someone from a better family, like their own. If I was in the same situation expecting a child I would hope I would have told the father.
Tessa is definitely being cruel; she is unhappy in her own life and marriage, and even though it’s her son, she can’t find it in herself to unselfishly want what he wants. Plus, part of her as a snobby mother wants more for him.
No she is not acting in Gabriel"s best interest, only her own. She feels that Beth is not good enough to warrant a place in her family. She is cruel in how she handled it. She certainly should have let Beth talk to Gabriel.
I think she THOUGHT she was doing the right thing for her son. Tessa is the kind of person who would think her son couldn’t possibly be happy with someone like Beth, someone beneath them.
However, her personal biases led to pain and heartbreak for so many people.
Time, place, socioeconomic hierarchy, contributed to the actions of Tessa & Beth. Tessa acted as she thought best for her son. They were both too young. Plus, Beth was too immature to talk with Gabriel at Oxford. That was also likely a ‘class’ issue.
Tessa was a miserable, manipulative and cruel woman who only thought of herself. Her wealth allowed her to buy off both Beth and the nun at her school. Sister Ignatius gave Beth good advice, " You’re better off without people like that, in my opinion." If I were Beth I would not have told Gabriel about the pregnancy.. At the time, Beth believed (incorrectly) that Gabriel had betrayed her. When Frank asks if she told Gabriel, Beth answers, "Doesn’t know. And never will. We broke up so . . . " Things turn out quite differently for all the characters as the story unfolds.
Tessa is a selfish woman. She relishes her status and believes she is doing the best thing for Gabriel. He could have demonstrated his love for Beth by defying his interfering mother. Beth was right. He always listened to his mother.
I think she was a cruel vindictive woman. Beth was not in her “class” so she was very relieved to find out that Beth had not told Gabriel about the pregnancy yet. I think she was acting out of her own interests not those of her son. Beth should have been more aggressive about getting the news to Gabriel.
From the beginning, Tessa was condescending to Beth. Tessa acted in with her own best interest in mind. Social status and wealth drove Tessa’s actions. I can’t even imagine myself as Tessa; Gabriel had a right to know.
Lynne - your first sentence, “Tessa was a miserable, manipulative and cruel woman who only thought of herself.” was absolutely correct. Young, naive Beth didn’t have a chance.
Tessa was too mean and self-centered to be acting for anyone’s good but her own. However, she might have thought that things turned out well for Gabriel, too. If I were Beth, I would never have gone inside with Tessa. I would’ve said I would come back later. She was clearly no match for Tessa because she was a young, nice, naive girl.
It’s all about communication.Tessa couldn’t see through her class prejudice to see that Beth made her son very happy, instead she selfishly manipulated everyone to get the outcome she desired. If she would have really wanted the best for her son and grandchild she would have worked with Beth and Gabriel and helped them raise the child and marry, so the both could eventually finished school.
Beth and Gabriel should have communicated their feelings to each other, Beth her disappointment In Gabriel’s supposed betrayal and Gabriel should have pursued the issue and asked why she left. I think both were too mature and missed the opportunity to grow into a stronger relationship. Had Beth been honest about being pregnant with Gabriel and what his mom had said I think they could have worked it out!
Tessa didn’t think that Beth was “good enough” for her son. She intentionally drove a wedge between Beth and Gabriel to make sure they would not continue their relationship. She was a cruel woman and was not giving her son the benefit of choosing his own love interest.
I think that Tessa thought she knew what was best for Gabriel. What mother doesn’t? She didn’t think that Beth was good enough for Gabriel. It was a status thing.
I agree with many of the comments above. I think Tessa was very focused on appearances and class issues. Also, I think communication was a problem… their young age and lack of sophistication made them easy targets for this kind of manipulation.
No, she felt Beth was a peasant and didn’t have the breeding and stature for her sons future.