I've been thinking a lot about these parts of MAG154: Bloody Mary (Eric's Statement) and MAG111: Family Business (Gerry's Statement).
Image Text: "She wasn't a caring mother or a skilled teacher. My struggling at her lessons infuriated her."
Image Text: I hunted Leitner's Zbooks with the best of them, even found a few. I'd bring them home and watch her eye's light up. But it was always the books that she was happy to see.
Image Text: Eric: "S'pose that makes sense. And Gerry? Have you seen my son?" GERTRUDE: "No; I've never met him, I'm afraid. Mary talks of him a lot. Well, she seems very Proud."
In Gerry's statement, Mary never acknowledges him, never appreciates him, never praises him. Even when he was doing what she wanted, there was nothing for him.
But Gertrude has seen a completely different side of how Mary views her son. She hears Mary talk about Gerry, talk about him a lot. Mary is proud of her son.
But he never hears that.
And this isn't saying that, I dunno, secretly Mary did love Gerry and just needed some parenting classes or some shit.
This doesn't have a point or grand conclusion. Maybe it's better that Mary didn't show him what little positive feelings she had for him; maybe if she had, he would have become more like her, been more willing to follow in her foosteps. Maybe it's just another small part of the tragedy of his life that he didn't even hear the utilitarian pride that Mary expressed to others. I dunno. It's just very sad.
