A recent reading of PENDENNIS by William Makepeace Thackeray reminded me how prevalent is the theme of mother and son incest in classic literature. While the societal taboo is implied in some of the works, even a cursory reading leaves one sensing the lust of the mother for her son. In Thackeray’s classic 19th century novel, PENDENNIS, the theme of incest is strongly evident . Helen Pendennis, mother of the main character Arthur, seems to lust after her own son. In fact, what surprised me about the incest in PENDENNIS is its blatancy.
Helen Pendennis, a lonely but sexually alluring widow, is very much aware that the object of her lust is her own son. She broods over her son’s affairs, even throwing one young lady into the street because of her interest in the son. “I have no doubt there is a sexual jealousy on the mother’s part, and a secret pang,” Thackeray writes in PENDENNIS.
Helen Pendennis is several times described as being in her son’s bed. She is nursing him through an illness, “with her Bible in her lap.” In the introduction to the book, John Sutherland insists that while the “holy book is significant” in this scene, “so is the part of the body it is covering.” He also points out that “Helen posts herself by Arthur’s bed, less a nurse than a virtuous dragon.”
Centuries before the publication of PENDENNIS, Sophocles wrote the most bizarre work of incest. Oedipus the King not only slept with but married his mother, Jocasta. The two also produced several children. In spite of the unquestionable sexual intimacy between Oedipus and his mother, the Greek tragic hero and heroine are easier to forgive than Athur and Helen Pendennis. Unlike Thackeray’s hero in PENDENNIS, Oedipus did not realize Jocasta was his mother until the deed had already been performed.
A similar case of incest is evident is Shakespeare’s HAMLET. Throughout the play the Dane seems overly fond of his mother, Gertrude. He even joins her in her bed in a scene from Act V. Gertrude’s feelings for her son are not quite as obvious, though an unusual attachment cannot be denied. Still, the Dane’s mother is not as obsessed with her son to the extent of Helen Pendennis. In fact, Hamlet’s mother encourages her son’s affair, especially with Ophelia.
There are also incestuous undertones in George Eliot’s ADAM BEDE. The widowed mother has an unhealthy obsession about her elder son, Adam. She constantly insults her husband, to the extent that Adam actually ends up disliking his father until his death. Adam’s mother seems relieved when her husband passes away, probably so that an obstacle between her and her eldest son has been removed. Mrs. Bede, however, does not appear as obsessed as Helen Pendennis. Mrs. Bede does not discourage her son’s affair. In fact, she is the major advocate for Adam’s marrying the female preacher his brother loves so much.
Of all the blatant or implied literary examples of the universal taboo, Helen Pendennis seems to be the most far gone incestuous mother. She lusts for her son to the point that she sabatoges any chance Arthur might have at romance.
