The Revolt of Mother: The Power of Decision


            Decisions shape our lives. In history , the decisions of leaders and
generals have changed the course of mankind. In today's world , multi-billion
dollar corporations rest on the decisions of a few select executives.   On a
smaller but no less important scale, acting on decisions can liberate people
from stagnation. In the story "The Revolt of   Mother" the main character shows
us the power of acting on   decisions.   Mother recognizes the wrongs of her
situation   and weighs the effect on her family. In the end she acts to free
herself and her family from forty years of   wrong.

            Mother lives forty years with a suppressed dream—a new house
promised to her after her wedding. She lives with the everyday routine of
cleaning the house and cooking pies for the family. This shows the stagnation of
her everyday existence; an existence brought about by forty years of non-
decision. Mother stays content with her shack. "She was   a masterly keeper of
her box of a house. Her one living room never seemed to have in it any of the
dust which the friction of life with inanimate matter produces"(LACpg.284).
This shows the lack of empowerment mother has at this time of the story.   This
state is partly due to the society—a time that was male dominated and
discouraged the wife to speak out—and partly because mother just feel into a
routine that included everything except her happiness.   I felt that mother
centered her life around providing for her family but forgot to look towards her
own needs. She bakes pies, cooks dinner and it everything else except things
that made her happy. Mother discovers   disturbing news when she learns that her
future house is   giving way to Father's new barn. Mother would have probably let
her dream die if it were not for a conversation with her daughter. Mother
realizes that it's not just her happiness involved.   This breach of contract now
involved the happiness of the family. Mother does... [continues]

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