After I was finally able to move past the flat, boring character names in the Nanny Diaries, my thoughts moved to Mrs. X. What does she do all day that keeps her so busy she needs a nanny full-time, and is rarely home to talk to Nanny in person? Personal hygiene practices and beauty outings can not possibly take up all that time. Furthermore, why would someone want a child if she does not want to take part in his life?
Some mothers choose not to work so they can have an active role in their children’s lives, and some mothers hire domestic help so they can work and still have children. Mrs. X on the other hand, does not work and does not raise her child. In her seemingly commitment-less life, I wonder if she lives a privileged existence, or if she keeps herself so busy to divert her attention from her unhappiness. Mrs. X is clearly unhappy, and while I believe it is partly due to her empty life, this could be up for debate.
I also find it interesting that Mrs. X hires a someone to mother her child. Her relationship with Nanny is hostile at times and yet always very dependant. I hope to see more mother/outside caregiver relationships for which to compare to Nanny and Mrs. X.
1 Comment
March 12, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I think there is an easy answer to your question of why Mrs. X wanted a child. Clearly, it was so that she could trap Mr. X in their relationship. She stole him from another woman, and had to make absolutely sure that this couldn’t happen to her. He may not care about her AT ALL, but he’d certainly care about losing half his assets in a divorce…