"Wilhelm" by Gabrielle Roy (Journal 3)

“ It was the mother's responsibility to intervene in her daughter's life as she did."

I believe that there is a fine line between being protective and intervening. Now the mother of the main character in “Wilhelm” was not trying to be protective at all. She was trying to tell her daughter what she needs and wants in her life. I can say that the mother as well was bit more then controlling. Cutting off all communication towards him and her should of not been something she should have done. Even though later on in the book the main character did find out that Wilhelm just wasn’t the right guy for her, her mother should of just let her find out for herself. If her mother continues to do such things then her daughter will not be able to function on her own when she does get older and into the real world.

I strongly do feel that her mother shouldn’t be intervening in her life. Yes it is her daughter and in the end she does want her to make the right choices, she should still let the child grow and find out things for herself. Yes protecting your child is always something that you want to do but yet still certain things children do have to learn on there own. Parents don’t know but children now a day a very sneaky. They will try whatsoever they can just to get what they want. Hence why kids are very rebellious now a days, just like the main character. Once her mother forbade her to walk on the same sidewalk as him and also to write letters towards him she found out a way that she can communicate with Wilhelm which was the telephone.

I understand the fact that her mother is just watching out but she also needs to let the child nature and find out things on her own. It isn’t her responsibility to be in everything that she does. So I find she needed to step back and give her time to let things processes. Another thing that comes to mind is that I understand that he had a different nationality and that could be also why she was so overprotective. This shows that back in those days, people were much more judgemental and prejudice. I still believe that the mother should have not put her own concerns of what she thinks of the young man unto her daughter and step back to let the scenery take place. In conclusion, I do strongly believe that it is not the mother’s responsibility to intervene into her child’s life the way she did but she does have a right to be protective.