the substituted mother. The following part is the analysis of some studies on The Death of the Heart, related to the problem of mother-
daughter‟s bond relation and social construction of womanhood. It helps this study encompass and develop
analysis about the negativity of self-identification to patriarchal motherhood and symbolic father toward a woman‟s self-freedom.
2.1.1 The Notion of Mother-Daugh ter’s Bond Relationship
This first part of analysis discusses the related studies of four critics; Victoria Warren, Neil Corcoran, Barbara Seward, and Alfred McDowell, who
analyze the negative impact of mothers nurturance for Portia. In Victoria Warrens critique, she explains the negativity of mother-daughters relationship.
Warren has examined the close relationship between mother and daughter in The Death of the Heart and found the negative impact of mothers nurturance for
Portia. Warren observes Portias character as the one who does not have enough experience to live in the society which dishonors kindness and feeling.
17
Warren criticizes the mother‟s character, who always acts from the heart, as the cause for
Portia‟s kindness and innocence. She believes that the daughter will inherit and internalize caretakers mother attributes, responses, and attitudes as the aspects
of self-identity. From Warren‟s argument, the negative side of mother-daughter‟s bond
relationship is clearly revealed. Close relation with the mother makes the daughter fall into imaginary unity, inherits all of the sameness, pleasure, and refuses the
17
Victoria Warren . “Experience Means Nothing till It Repeats Itself: Elizabeth Bowens The
Death of the Heart and Jane Austen‟s Emma”. Modern Language Studies 29.1 Spring, 1999: p.
140. JSTOR. Web. 8 Apr. 2015
differences.
18
This study notes that their closeness makes them construct emotional bond, and it allows the mother to impose her desire and emotional
feeling to her daughter. As the same opinion with Warren, Neil Corcoran argues that Portia‟s
childish manner, such as weeping, reflects the impact of mother‟s nurturance that forms Portia‟s immaturity.
19
Corcoran affirms that Portia ‟s age does not confirm
her maturity. He suggests that nurturing has influenced the formation of Portia‟s immaturity in which in the age of 18 Portia still shows her inferiority and childish
manner instead of her maturity. Corcoran‟s analysis reveals an argument about the emotional ties between a mother and her daughter too. It is proposed by
Jasmine Lee Cori that a mother is a nurturer and provider on both physical and emotional subsistence.
20
From Cori‟s argument, this study underlines that Portias sentimental feeling and immaturity represent the effect of mother-daughters bond
relation which constructs the physical and psychological identity of the daughter. Moreover, the negative effect of mother-
daughter‟s bond relation is explained by Barbara Sewar
d through Portia‟s desire toward others‟ love and attention. She sees the emergence of Portia‟s sensibility to others‟ demand as the
consequence of her loneliness and innocent of love that makes her able to love others unconditionally.
21
Seward‟s argument helps this study to recognize Portia‟s sensitivity and love for others, especially for her lover Eddie, as a
18
Campbell, p. 100
19
Neil Corcoran. Elizabeth Bowen: The Enforced Return. NY: Oxford University Press, 2004, p. 106
20
Cori, p. 32
21
Barbara Seward . “Elizabeth Bowens World of Impoverished Love”. College English 18.1 Oct.,
1956: p. 32. JSTOR. Web 15. Apr. 2015
