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.