Analyse the relationship between the mother and her son in The Sons Es

Analyse the relationship between the mother and her son in The Son's Veto by Thomas Hardy showing how their behaviour and attitudes were affected by society. "The Son's Veto" is a short story that focuses on a woman, Sophy, who is torn between two conflicting social classes. Sophy is an uneducated parlour maid who marries a man above her class to secure her future. The son that is the outcome of the marriage is arrogant and self centred. He acts as thought he is superior to his mother because of his higher education and who he socialises with. The relationship between Sophy and her son, Randolph, is poor because they grew up in different classes. The thing that held their relationship together was the father and husband. When he dies it is as though the mother and son have nothing in common anymore. Social attitudes have affected heir relationship because the mother cannot be accepted into the son's class and the son will not be accepted into the mother class because it will ruin his reputation. At the beginning of the story, Hardy shows the social detachment between Spohy and her son through the language he uses, "Has, dear mother - not have!, exclaimed the public schoolboy". Hardy uses very impersonal phrases to describe how Sophy is being treated as if she is an object, "She was conducted out of the gardens and passed along the pavements". There is an expectation of how Sophy would be treated as a disabled woman. She noticed how people were interested in her but she did not mind, "did not mind gratifying their curiosity". Sophy is seen as the barter of the male and not as an individual. This means society treats her differently because of this as well as being disabled. When Sophy is the par... ... son. It is Randolph's insecurities and shame over his mother that leads him to control her life. In this way, as long as he is there to supervise her actions, he can take those extra precautions to prevent any social embarrassment that may be inflicted upon him by his mother. Sophy does not necessarily recognize this fact, but is only willing to put his needs and wants before her own. She also feels a sense of duty and obligation towards Randolph and therefore accepts what he says as being final. Ultimately, Sophy believes it is his happiness she needs to ensure and secure, not her own. This, sadly, is how she leads her life. Hardy analyses the flaws existing in society today and gives a fantastic example in showing how the "standards" set up by the public, as well as the selfishness that prevails among the citizens in society, destroyed Sophy's life.