Fear, it has a way of controlling everything that it comes in contact
with. As young children we are introduced to this intimidating desire
with intrigue and suspicion. As we age, the thoughts of fears become
more like realities, ideas of loneliness and death enter the picture as
comprehensible thoughts and views of the future. These issues make
up the foundation of the Mavis Gallant story 'Bernadette'. In this story
we are presented with the image of a young French Canadian girl, who
finds herself pregnant and without a husband. The context of the story
explores the relationships between the members of the household in a
fear associated manner. The relationship between the Knights and
Bernadette is the base of the story. These three people relate to each
other in an intimidating fashion and this is what makes Bernadette's
predicament so difficult to overcome. As well, the family ties between
Nora and Robbie are explored.
Their family relationship is one based on
dependence, and without this one factor the connection between the two
results in fearfulness of being alone. Fear has a way of attacking our
judgment and this is what makes associations between people an
apprehensive and hard act.
The story is set in Quebec during the 1940-1950, when what you
were was the definition of who you were. As the story opens we are
presented with the main character Bernadette, who is concluding that
she is one hundred and twenty-six days pregnant. At this time in history
it was quit common for young rural girls to bare children at a young
age. However, Bernadette is a single French Canadian girl who is
working and living in a urban community, where things like that do not
take place. We are here introduced to the first fear presented in the...