Eldon’s mother Character Analysis in Medicine Walk

After Eldon’s father died in the Second World War, Eldon’s mother was devastated. Eldon began working hard to support her, and she would read classic literature to him and his best friend, Jimmy Weaseltail, in the evenings. After Eldon starts working for logger Jenks in British Columbia, Eldon’s mother falls for Jenks, and he starts living with them. He soon becomes abusive toward her, but after Eldon and Jimmy attack Jenks in retaliation, Eldon’s mother defends Jenks and urges the boys to run away. She never sees her son again.

Eldon’s mother Character Timeline in Medicine Walk

The timeline below shows where the character Eldon’s mother appears in Medicine Walk. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...be taken away from him. His father’s existence became reduced to envelopes. He and his mother were living on a beet farm in Alberta, working for meager pay. When his father... (full context)

After this, Eldon’s mother began to decline. She would dance in the polka-dot dress she bought with his father’s... (full context)

...fixing things. Though he was never good with words himself, he loved it when his mother would read to him from classic literature at night. He made one friend, Jimmy Weaseltail,... (full context)

...settling down here. So Eldon opened up about his life, too. He explained that his mother’s gumption was his inspiration and Jenks was intrigued. (full context)

Jenks started having meals in the cookhouse where Eldon’s mother works. Eventually, he started eating in the family’s shack, bringing plenty of wine and beer.... (full context)

...Jenks spent most of his time in their shack, and before long, Jenks and Eldon’s mother were sharing a bed. Meanwhile, he became a harsher, more demanding boss. Eldon shrugged off... (full context)

After a month, he sees his mother’s first bruise. It’s a purple ring around her throat. Her eyes look dull. Eldon cusses... (full context)

...Eldon is out in the trees. Neither he nor Jimmy can stand listening to his mother read anymore, not with Jenks sitting there. Now Eldon watches the cabin and waits. Eventually,... (full context)

...goes limp. Eldon looks at Jimmy; he’s holding a hunting knife and a club. His mother crawls to Jenks and cries. She cradles his head in her lap as he moans.... (full context)

Eldon rapidly packs, taking his jar of wages out of the cupboard. He tells his mother she has a man to provide for her now and heads for the door. Jimmy... (full context)

...seen and done—soon, there will be nobody to speak for him. He recalls that his mother used to say, “Stories get told one word at a time.” (full context)

...open lands rushing past their train. At night, he thought about his father and his mother, whom he hadn’t seen in four years. He was afraid of dying. (full context)