Mrs Lyons

Wealth

• Middle Class - Mrs Lyons was born into money and was able to have an education. She is also materialistic.

“Oh, go on with you. Look, if it will make you any happier I’ll put them away.” (Pg 9)

(Mrs Lyons enters carrying a parcel) (Pg 8)

• Housewife - Mrs Lyons lives at home and spends Mr Lyons wages like a stereotypical middle class woman.

“Oh, it seems such a long time. The Company sent him out there for nine months” (Pg 8)

“Richard, can you let me have some cash?” (Pg 20)

• Spoiled - She has money to smoother Edward with and both have easy lives compared to the working class.

“It’s your work. Your work has deteriorated.” (Pg 22)

“Daddy… we haven’t finished the story yet” (Pg 34)

Motherhood

• Desperation - Mrs Lyons is desperate for a child and feels like she has failed as a woman. She is extremely lonely.

“I reach out. But as I do, he fades away.” (Pg 13)

“We thought children would come along” (Pg 8)

• Idealism - Mrs Lyons dreams of her life as a mother and idealises life with a son.

“I dreamed of all the places I would take him” (Pg 12)

“I’d always be there if his dream was a nightmare. My child.” (Pg 14)

• Over-Protective - Mrs Lyons smoothers Edward and fears loosing control over him, mostly because he is not her child.

“You are my son, mine” (Pg 37)

“I don’t want him out playing” (Pg 44)

• Insecurity - she finds motherhood difficult and seeks reassurance from Edward about her mothering abilities

“We have had a very good time this holiday, though, haven’t we?” (Pg 61)

Manipulation

• Poverty - Mrs Lyons uses Mrs Johnstone’s poverty to manipulate her into giving up Edward

“How can you possibly avoid some of them being put into care?” (Pg 12)

(Mrs Lyons picks up the money and thrusts it into Mrs Johnstone’s hands) (Pg 23)

• Lies - Mrs Lyons lies to Mr Lyons and to Mrs Johnstone frequently to benefit herself

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