The Push

02Why is Blythe's intuition dismissed?

In "The Push," we're introduced to Blythe, a woman who becomes a mother and immediately senses something is off about her daughter, Violet. She's not like other kids. She's difficult, she's different, and Blythe can't shake the feeling that she might even be dangerous. But here's the kicker: her husband, Fox, doesn't see it. He dismisses her concerns, attributing them to Blythe's troubled past and family history of mental illness. So, why is Blythe's intuition dismissed? Blythe's struggle with motherhood is a central theme in the novel. She feels isolated and misunderstood because of her unique perception of Violet. She's not just dealing with the typical challenges of motherhood; she's grappling with a fear that her child might be fundamentally different from others in a potentially harmful way. This fear creates a palpable tension in the narrative, a tension that is exacerbated by Fox's dismissal of her concerns. Fox's dismissal of Blythe's fears is a critical aspect of the narrative. He attributes her concerns to her troubled past and family history of mental illness, effectively dismissing her intuition about Violet. This dismissal is not just a denial of Blythe's fears; it's a denial of her lived experience as a mother. It's a dismissal of her intuition, her gut feeling that something is not right with Violet. Blythe's past plays a significant role in Fox's dismissal of her fears. She comes from a family with a history of mental illness, and she herself has a troubled past. Fox uses this past to dismiss Blythe's concerns about Violet, suggesting that her fears are a product of her own mental instability rather than a legitimate concern about their daughter. This dismissal is not just unfair to Blythe; it's potentially dangerous, as it prevents them from addressing the issue at hand: Violet's behavior. The tension between Blythe's intuition and Fox's dismissal of her concerns underscores the theme of trust and disbelief in the narrative. It's a struggle of a mother trying to navigate a challenging and potentially dangerous situation, only to have her concerns dismissed by the person who should be her biggest ally: her husband. This tension is not just a plot device; it's a reflection of a broader societal issue, where women's concerns are often dismissed or minimized, particularly when it comes to issues of mental health. So, why is Blythe's intuition dismissed? It's dismissed because of a combination of factors: Fox's bias, Blythe's past, and the societal tendency to dismiss women's concerns, particularly when it comes to issues of mental health. But the dismissal of Blythe's intuition is more than just a plot point in a novel; it's a commentary on the importance of acknowledging and understanding maternal intuition. It's a reminder that when a mother says something is off, we should listen.

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