She knows that with no confidence he will never leave she also realises he wants to please her and uses this mercilessly. His mother is bitter and vindictive - possibly her helplessness and/or fear of being abandoned has led to her efforts to undermine John. He seems unable to change his life without her permission, which she refuses to give. Quote His boyish eyes would be smitten by a hellish despair, would lose all their hope, and cloud over with the pain of the mute, suffering animalĪs he devotes himself to domestic and caring chores, his mother criticises his personality, lack of ‘proper’ job, and lack of ambition.
