Sonya Hartnett, author of Thursday's Child, convinces us to accept the idea that, though we are forced into our place by societal expectations women can be more rational and domineering than men, and that males are inconspicuously dependant

author of Thursday’s Child, convinces us to accept the idea that, though we are forced into our place by societal expectations women can be more rational and domineering than men, and that males are inconspicuously dependant on their female counterparts. The characters Thora and Court Flute (Mam and Da) are the dominant figures in the narrator, Harper’s, life at the time as she is only young, and are the main conveyers of this idea. In the first few pages of the story, Harper introduces us to her family. She introduces us to her dogs, and innocently mentions her Da’s moods. This foreshadows his character, as “he would sometimes threaten to shoot” the dogs. Immediately Mam is said to have “put a stop to that.” Already, the only man present has managed to show aggression towards something, just like society expects men to, and the only woman present has managed to settle him down, setting the tone for the remainder of the text. Harper believes that her Mam “had a heart too soft for herself...[it] got put in the wrong body....[and] wanted to do its living somewhere clement and florally.” This suggests that women have to look after their husbands and family, and don’t have a choice in the matter. They can't follow their hearts, and must adhere to their place in society. Da is also expected to act a certain way by society. Apparently, once Da found out that Tin had survived after being enveloped by mud, he “...burst out weeping.” Harper says that she “never saw [her] Da, before or afterwards, do anything like that.” Da never cried in front of others or even at all because males are simply not expected or meant to. Later in the text Da comes close to a breakdown and still doesn’t cry, but displays large amounts of anger instead like “biting [his nails] into his skin” and “grappl[ing] at his scalp.” He even goes as far as slapping Harper, yet refuses to cry despite the fact that their house is non-existent and most of their belongings are irretrievable. When Da slaps Harper Mam takes control of the situation, calling him a coward and orders him to rebuild the house immediately. He knows better than to fight with her and simply asks what with. “I'm taking the children...and they won't be coming home until there’s a decent home for them to come to” Mam adds, and stays to her word. Mam understands that the only way Da will rebuild the house is if she threatens him so that he has no choice, displaying ingenuity and using her initiative. Like many men, Da becomes dependant on alcohol to cope with the grief of losing everything dear to him. “Drink’s brought many a family to ruin. Thora hasn’t said a word” Mrs Murphy, their neighbour, tells her husband. Mam knows what the news will do to Da’s reputation if his friends and family find out, so she keeps it quiet as she knows it’s best. Therefore, through Mam and Da, the idea that though we are forced into our place by societal expectations women can be more domineering than men, and that males are inconspicuously dependant on their female counterparts is relayed. The characters, Mam and Da, in the text Thursday’s Child by Sonya Hartnett are important in conveying certain attitudes concerning the social pressures on males and females. In particular, the idea that though we are forced into our place by societal expectations women can be more domineering than men, and that males are inconspicuously dependant on their female counterparts.