Careful, He Might Hear You :: essays research papers

Cargonful He Might Hear You, by Sumner Locke Elliot, is a complicated novel, revolving around the layer of a six year white-haired boy named PS and his try for personal identity amidst the conflicts of his closest relatives. The narration of these conflicts, as well as the history behind their origins, forms the basis of the novel, and while the different types of familys between the characters are not the main focus of the novel, the author links them with each of the characters common disposition of identity and their personal desires. Careful He Might Hear You is a book about people finding their true identities, and the truth or imbalance of the relationships that result from this. Through comparison and contrast, Sumner Locke Elliot highlights the flaws in each of the relationships presented, and the ramifications these harbor on the individuals involved their present lives and their probable futures.The first significant relationship presented in the novel is that betwe en PS and his Aunt Lila and Uncle George. PS sees himself merely as Lila and Georges child and this perception that he has on himself promptly influences the nature of his relationship with them. Being a six year old child yet to develop his own personal sense of identity, PS deposes implicitly in Lila and George and believes, in his innocent naive way, that they will ever do what is best for him. This is not so much carelessness on PSs part, as an ignorance of any some other type of raising and love than that administered to him by Lila and George. His unawareness of the outside world and any other style of life but his own causes the power of their relationship to be solely in the hands of Lila.PSs innocence and trust in Lila becomes one of the major contributors to the clash which develops between Vanessa and Lila at a time Vanessa takes partial custody of PS. The nature of the relationship Vanessa demands from PS is so entirely different to that of Lila that PS finds himse lf torn between 2 women who, with their secrets, lies and constant quests for the upper hand, disrupt his own sense of personal benefit and security. This inner disquiet and uncertainty causes PS to change, and the nature of the relationships he reconcile with both his Aunts changes with this. These changes run parallel to PSs emerging sense of identity, and the highlight, in the end, how important it is to be sure of who one is and what one wants in order for ones relationship with other people to work.