In the short story “Brigid” by Mary Lavin, the protagonist faces a dilemma as she tries to convince her husband, Owen, to place his sister, Brigid, in a nursing home. Set in 1930s Ireland when sending relatives to nursing homes was considered disgraceful, this controversial topic sparks a heated argument between the couple. In anger, Owen storms off to Brigid’s house while his wife becomes worried about his well-being and goes after him. Tragically, upon reaching Brigid’s house, she finds Owen dead on the ground after suffering from a fatal stroke.
The most significant theme in “Brigid” is love sustaining with a challenge. Brigid’s mental retardation prevented her from saving Owen, causing his wife to realize that she never truly loved him and had pretended to be someone she wasn’t. This theme highlights the lack of compassion for Brigid, the realization of not being as loving as she could have been, and the betrayal of presenting herself falsely. True love is often associated with elderly couples that go for a morning stroll in the park, holding hands, implying that they have endured difficult times but have each other.
“The theme, love sustains with a challenge is a key factor to the story, ‘Brigid’.” In the story, Owen and his wife constantly argue about whether to move Brigid to a nursing home. Owen’s frustration reaches a breaking point, causing him to leave the house in anger (Lavin 318-321). It is evident that this disagreement is not a one-time occurrence but a recurring issue that remains unresolved. This portrays Owen’s feelings of hopelessness towards salvaging their love. He appears to have given up on making their relationship work because his wife is unwilling to let Brigid stay on their property.”
Owen expresses his pessimistic outlook on his wife when he declares, “In the town? And why didn’t somebody go to town, might I ask?” (Lavin 318). This passage occurs when Owen’s wife fails to obtain meat for their dinner. This creates a tense atmosphere for the couple, as they argue about something as minor as not having meat in one of their meals. Through this quotation, it is evident that they lack a strong relationship and fail to comprehend that their life can still be fulfilling without meat in a meal! Ultimately, the story teaches that love endures through challenges.
According to the lyrics of Rascal Flatts’ song “Bless The Broken Road,” the protagonist expresses hope for finding true love despite getting lost along the way. This sentiment resonates with the character “Brigid,” who, like Owen’s wife, struggled to understand the concept of love. While sitting by the water pump, Owen’s wife acknowledges her failure to reciprocate his love: “I had failed him always…I never loved him like he loved me…” (Lavin 324). This realization illustrates her awareness of lost love and the futility of trying to rectify their situation. Despite always loving her, she never comprehended the meaning behind his affection.
Owen’s wife reflects on her lack of understanding about love, realizing that she was too young to truly comprehend it. She acknowledges that a successful marriage requires effort and the willingness to overcome challenges. The compassion and understanding shown by Owen added an intriguing layer to their story. However, Owen’s wife laments that he directed his love towards Brigid, considering it a waste. She believes that Brigid, being mentally retarded, does not require love. In her frustration, she even suggests putting Brigid in a nursing home so that their daughters can have a chance at finding love, even if it means Brigid herself would not receive any.
Despite Owen’s strong compassion for Brigid, it ultimately led to his demise. Furthermore, his wife acknowledges that she had pretended to be someone else for his sake. In her epiphany, she confesses, “I was only making myself out to be what he imagined I was” (Lavin 325), realizing that their love was not genuine. Throughout the narrative, Owen frequently praises his wife for her kindness and affection towards Brigid. However, a series of unfortunate events, culminating in Owen’s death, forces his wife to confront the falsehood of her existence.
The lack of compassion, love, and presence of lies led to the downfall of Owen and his wife’s relationship. Over time, Owen’s wife came to understand that she had never truly experienced love because she did not grasp its true meaning. This revelation made her realize that Owen no longer loved her but only cherished Brigid. It is crucial to reflect on our feelings for those we love and regularly express them.
Work Cited:
Lavin, Mary. “Brigid.” The Language of Literature. Ed. Arthur N. Applebee. California ed. USA: McDougal Little, 2022. 317-325. Print.
