The Wide Wide World

In the small portion of "The Wide Wide World" that we had the opportunity to read, we saw domestic roles; mothers at home with the children and fathers bringing home the cheddar. Since the fathers were away working, it was up to the mothers to make sure that the children were conducting themselves appropriately. When I think of authority I think of both parents, but in this particular story I saw Mrs. Montgomery as Ellen's main authority. Mr. Montgomery is Ellen's authority as well, but we never saw him give Ellen instructions until the morning she was to leave and go to Thirwall. Ellen did do all that he told her to do until it was time for her to part from her mother. I saw Ellen's actions not only as a child not wanting to part from her mother, but as well as her disregarding what her father asks her to do. There was an Old Gentelman that helped Ellen when she was at the shoping center picking out colors for her others merinos. Even thought that was their first encounter, the old man seemed more like a father to Ellen than her own. In "The Wide Wide World" Mr. Montgomery was never present and Ellen would try her best to avoid him. On the other hand Mrs. Montgomery was with Ellen all day and Ellen loved spending time with her mother. I feel that Ellen has no need or desire for her father to be around because he never is. She know who he is but because he does not act like it she has never had a father daughter connections with him. Mrs. Montgomery is Ellen's world; everything revolves around her in Ellen's eyes. Ellen and her mother are so close that they should not be separaed, but because of the doctors orders they have no other choice. I think that with the absence of her mother Ellen will take the lessons that she has taught her and become the young women her mother hopes she will be.