fourteen quotes My Oedipus Complex

"The war was the most peaceful period in my life"

This shows the narrator is unintentionally ironic.The war is bringing death and destruction,but Larry,with father absent,is enjoying the peace of having mother to himself

"Feeling like a bottle of champagne"

This simile shows that just as champagne fizzes so Larry is full of energy each morning with plans.

"Feeling like the sun ready to illumine and rejoice"

This simile shows that just as the sun brings warmth and is central to survival so mothers love brings warmth and is central to his life.

"Like santa claus he came and went mysteriously"

This simile shows that just as santa comes only once a year and leaves presents so Larry's father is a distant figure in his life.

"It was like going for a walk with a mountain"

This simile shows that just as a mountain is remote and difficult to approach so father is a distant figure in his life.

"Like burying a family from the cradle"

This simile shows that just as a family could suffocate and die if buried so Larry feels that fathers return has killed his daily routine.

"Smack your own! Smack your own! Shut up! Shut up"

This use of repetition in the climax emphasises Larry's hysterical feelings of anger at the way he has been treated by a father he does not know.

"There was a little matter of the baby"

This understatement shows that Larry actually thinks she can easily supply mother with a baby showing he does not now the facts of life.

"Ah,put your arm around us can't you?"

Shows the turning point when there is a role reversal and Larry becomes the sympathetic parent and Mick the child.

"He has a common accent and made noises at tea..she either genuinely liked father better than talking to me or he had some terrible hold on her..."

This shows that Larry thinks he is the better man,but also how niave he is regarding the facts of life.

"The Geney's up the road has a baby and they couldn't afford seventeen and six"

Unintentional humour shows he doesn't know the facts of life as mother has told him that people can buy babies.He thinks Mother is only waiting for an expensive one when we know she is waiting for father's return.

"That poisonous pup"

Harsh alliteration highlights his resentment at finally getting a brother.There is also Unintentional irony to highlight his disappointment that when he prays for things and gets them,Then he no longer wants them.

"Every time i talked about the waste of making two beds...now this stranger was sleeping with her without the least regards to her health."

This shows Larry may not know the facts of life but he can see through mothers white lies about not sleeping in the double bed because its not hygienic.

"If I prayed hard enough would God send Daddy back to the war?"

This unintentional ironic question illustrates how Larry prays for things and yet when he gets them he no longer wants them