Mad Shadows Character Analysis

The role of a mother is crucial in shaping the foundation of the household. In the novella, Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais, two women, Isabelle-Marie and Louise play the important role of the ironic mother as they shape Patrice. Whilst both Isabelle-Marie and Louise play the role of the ironic mother, they essentially destroy Patrice physically, mentally, and emotionally. Isabelle Marie physically tortures him whilst Louise continuously favors him destroying him mentally. However, as Patrice begins to show his ugly side, both of the women choose to neglect him therefore emotionally destroying him.

Isabelle-Marie plays a key role in the upbringing of her brother as she destroys him physically by tormenting him in order to make him ugly. This is evident at the beginning of the book when Louise leaves Patrice and Isabelle-Marie at home alone. “By depriving him from food she could make pale and wan, and this creature who had never known the touch of misery would become her puppet, her own spindly puppet”(15) Unlike a proper mother who nurtures, loves, and cares for their child, Isabelle-Marie chooses to torture Patrice by depriving him of bread and making him starve.This leads to Patrice becoming sick and very weak, symbolizing that bread is a source of physical torture

Both mother figures in his life fail to fulfill their duties and provide basic guidance. Today, it is common to see careless mothers who fail to train their children due to various circumstances, this takes an immense toll on the child mentally and physically. It is important to note, that children are vulnerable and innocent, as it is only expected that a mother will groom, nurture and provide for their child. However, this is not the case for all children, a mother's failure to do the aforementioned can lead to permanent consequences and destroy the familial