Analyse af 'Mount Pleasant' af Mary-Louise Buxton

Growing up, the unconditional love of a parent is of utter importance for children. The parents’ determination of how children should be raised, has a very psychological influence them. The children are submitted to the parents’ authority and there is almost nothing to do but accept how they are treated. The only thing that the parents cannot take away from the children, is their imagination. It lies deep within them and is a powerful trait. Children can use their imagination both willingly and unwillingly…

“Mount Pleasant”, a short story written by Mary-Louise Buxton, deals with the problems of what children are able to do with their imagination when they will not accept the reality of a neglecting mother.

Elizabeth, the protagonist and narrator, leads us through the story from her point of view, showing it from a child’s perspective. The story is told in a first-person narrative and therefore Elizabeth’s thoughts are also revealed. The language is peculiar and childish, as she uses words like “Mammy” (p. 1 line 7), “Daddy” (p. 1 line 7) and “lickity-sticky” (p. 4 line 122). This narrative language makes us able to feel as if we are inside the head of a child, thinking and seeing things the way she does. We also discover that she is very inventive and imaginary. “Mammy gives the ceiling The Look – the one where she opens her eyes really wide and shoots out death rays – as if Big Alex could see her through the floor.” (p. 2 line 45). Being imaginary and also spontaneous, as she shifts a lot in time while narrating, also makes her less trustworthy. We have to remember that she is a child, and therefore it could be a whole different story if it was told by mother.