Women's history: key figures, movements, and social change

¶ … Mother" by Sue Miller.

The Good Mother" by Sue Miller

Sue Miller's novel, "The Good Mother" is a warning to women that feminism without moral codes in tact can be dangerous to oneself and to loved ones. Unfortunately for Anna, Miller's main character, good judgement was clouded by her vulnerability and irresponsibility was mistaken for independence.

Anna was in so much pain when she met Leo that she followed the wave of passion believing it would lead her to herself, lead her home. Leo awakened in her feelings and desires that had been dormant a lifetime. His artistic free-spirited persona was the exact opposite to her husband, Brian's business-like conservative personality. All Anna is aware of is that for the first time in her life she feels alive, her senses aroused and attuned. Anna is basically in love for the first time. And when one is in love for the first time, one is generally blind to the other's flaws as well as blind to social mores and practicality. Had Anna not been a mother, her behavior and lifestyle would not have raised eyebrows, nor would it have caused any damage other than a broken heart when the heat of passion subsided. However, Anna was not single and exposing her daughter, Molly, to such an open relationship was placing her at risk. Nudity in families is questionable at best, but Leo's nudity around Molly could easily be called perversion. Moreover, the bed scene in which Molly is in bed with Anna and Leo while they make love would be extremely inappropriate and psychologically unhealthy even if they had been her parents.

Had the tables been turned the other way and Brian had custody of a son who was exposed to Brian's girlfriend the same way Molly was exposed to Leo, Anna would have most likely been just as outraged and concerned. Anna was not living and behaving as a feminist as much as she was a naive star-crossed, smitten young woman who is away from her parents for the first time and declares her independence from them by moving in with her lover. Leo is Anna's rebellion, a rebellion that should have occurred when she was a young coed, choosing a guy whom her parents would most certainly disapprove.

Miller's character could be seen as a feminist victimized by a double-standard society, however, Anna appears more as a warning against sexual promiscuity and traditional social mores. Anna was not an innocent victim, framed by a judging society.