The Wide, Wide World

The text encourages us to view the role of “parents” as playing a critical role in a child’s life. The text shows how influential parents can be on their children by reiterating the importance of a parent’s teachings and the child’s goal to remember all that their parents have taught them. The text also points out how much children admire their parents as well as trust and believe in what their parents say. Ellen illustrates this in the story when she says, “Why, mamma,-- in the first place, I trust every word you say—entirely—I know nothing could be truer; if you were to tell me black is white, mamma, I shall think my eyes had been mistaken.” Throughout the text we also view the role of parents as someone who offers a sense of security to their child. This is demonstrated through the relationships between Ellen and her mother as well as Ellen and the stranger. Many times throughout the story Ellen talks about how safe she feels while lying in her mother’s arms. Ellen also is comforted by the kindness of the stranger when she is alone and confused while shopping at the store. This stranger is often referred to as the “protector” in the text. “ But Ellen and her protector went forth most joyously together from the store.” The roles of mother and father greatly differ throughout the text. The mother is seen as the parental figure that is closest and interacts most with the child. The mother is seen as a teacher to the child while the father is a provider for the family. Throughout the text it is clear that Mr. Montgomery does not have the same emotional connection with Ellen as Mrs. Montgomery does. Mr. Montgomery describes Ellen after breaking the news to her of her departure as, “Like a littler hero. She didn’t say a word, or shed a tear.” Mrs. Montgomery understands Ellen’s emotions much better than Mr. Montgomery. “She understood far better than her husband what Ellen’s feelings were, and could interpret much more truly than he the signs of them; the conclusions she drew from Ellen’s silent tearless reception of the news differed widely from his.” It is clear throughout the text that Ellen perceives her mother as her role model. Ellen adores her mother and aspires to be just like her when she gets older. Ellen relies on her mother for guidance. Ellen will use what her mother has taught her to guide and assist her throughout her life. While shopping Ellen chooses items that she believes that her mother would be pleased with because Ellen believes that those items are the best. Ellen perceives her father as an authoritative figure. Ellen probably does not expect to have a deep connection with her father throughout her life.