Daughters-Mothers. Or Is the Third One Extra?
Caroline Eliacheff, Natalie Heinich
Modern French psychoanalysts examine what seems to be the most "obvious" aspect of family relationships to "all normal people": the bond between mother and daughter. Who hasn’t heard at least once in their life the claim that mothers and daughters are the closest of people? Or that daughters are always closer to their mothers?
«Daughters and Mothers…» offers a glimpse behind the curtain. Behind the façade where outsiders see a "good mother," a "bad mother," or an "ideal mother." What truly happens in these relationships? Why do daughters (and mothers as well) suffer, blame themselves, and drown in guilt? Why do those trapped in unhappy relationships fail to see a way out? As the author notes, "with the ignorance and simplicity inherent in these people, such deeply destructive relationships often persist simply because society places too much value on maternal love."
The authors analyze different types of relationships that revolve solely around two individuals, excluding any third party, using examples from literary and cinematic works—both classic and contemporary. The directness of the character in Ingmar Bergman’s film Autumn Sonata "challenges Freud’s surprising assumption that only women can truly understand the relationship between a mother and daughter."
The drama of the talented child and being held captive. The importance of making a "cut-off", "a way to decisively break from the past in order to find one’s place in the niche occupied by their generation."
The attitude toward a daughter’s coming of age and the "choice" of passion that will guide her life. The possibility (or impossibility) of adults growing up, the need to "step away from the conventional understanding of the word 'love'" and "introduce a third party who allows each to find their rightful place—no more, no less."
For readers eager to delve deeper into the topic, numerous references to additional sources are provided.
