Analyse af 'Rachel and Flora'

The mother in the story seems to be a strict mother of two, who is devastated by the fact that her daughters can’t get along. She also seems to be rather miserable, by the fact that she’s a 40-year-old single woman, with a depressing job. “Their mother was a bereavement counsellor” (l. 25) Because it’s her 40th year old birthday, she has invited her daughters and ex-husband to a fancy restaurant. This is a big deal for them, and it gives us the impression, that she’s not very wealthy. We can tell that, by the way they’re reading up the menu, and dresses up. “She read the entire menu aloud in a surprised voice.” (l. 58) When they get home, and finds out, that her daughters are fighting, she gets herself involved. She is very aggressive towards Flora, and she is furious at her. “The mother grabbed Flora and shook her shoulders. Flora pushed her away.” (l. 191) It seems like she’s very fond of alcohol, since she finishes a bottle of red wine, after her fight with Flora. She sits in the dark by herself, in Floras room which Flora stormed out of. She’s watching and listening to happy people, coming home from bars. (l. 191) She envies them, and she wishes that it was her, who could be able to have such a birthday.