The Relationship Between Mother and Daughter in James Cain’s Mildred Pi

The Relationship amidst set out and Daughter in James Cains Mildred hurlI have always been of the belief that in order to truly love, loathe must exist within the core of the relationship. Nowhere in groundbreaking fiction is this dictum examined more accurately than in the novel by James Cain, Mildred Pierce. Looking at the concept in a familial context, James Cain has created two well-developed characters, Mildred Pierce and her daughter, Veda, that not only emphasizes the temperament of mother-daughter relationships, moreover looks at how love and hate permeates the very essence of the relationship. The Irish poet doubting Thomas Moore once described the fascination of these violently fluctuating emotions, When I love you, I cant but allow/ I had more an exquisite minute/ But the scorn that I feel for you at once/ Hath even more luxury in it (Tresidder 57).While reading Mildred Pierce, I was reminded of my own mothers relationship with her daughters. One of my sisters, Leslie, in particular, scorned my mother in youth. It was strong emotion to extinguish, especially in those pliant teen years, but because life is dominated with experiences, things in which we learn from, afterwards one comes to understand the nature of their hate and love and begins to properly particularize the truth of each. Unfortunately, we dont get to see this in Mildred Pierce and Vedas relationship.The reason for this is twofold one, it is the element of obsessive love that fosters a breakdown in the natural boundaries that exist in a enate relationship. Secondly, it is the need by Mildred to seek the unrealistic approval from her daughter, Veda, which further exasperates the boundaries, almost wiping them completely away. We see these elements of obsessive love, ... ...essive love for Veda her need to gain toleration and approval from this undeserving daughter that leads her catastrophic collapse. For Veda, it is her spiteful and vindictive nature to exact pain from those she holds in contempt. One needs the other in order to bear witness to the conclusion of their story. Love and hate rules in Glendale.Work CitedCain, James. Mildred Pierce. New York Vintage Books. 1989Firman, Dorthy. Healing the Mother/Daughter Relationship. Mother/Daughter Relations 8 Dec 02 http//www.motherdaughterrelations.com/article.html www.motherdaughterrelations.com/article.html Phillips, Shelley. Beyond the Myths. New York Penguin Books. 1996Tresidder, Megan. The unknown Language of Love. San Francisco Chronicle Books. 1997Vial, Veronique. Women Before 10 a. m. Photograph. New York Powerhouse Books. 1998