Leo’s Mother Character Analysis in The Go-Between

A single mother raising Leo in the wake of her husband’s death. Leo’s mother is protective of her son but allows him to wants to return home, she encourages her son to be patient, as the Maudsleys could be valuable friends in the future; Leo’s father, she writes, made a mistake in not caring enough about his social life.

Leo’s Mother Character Timeline in The Go-Between

The timeline below shows where the character Leo’s Mother appears in The Go-Between. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...worked as a bank manager and would have liked Leo to be home schooled, though Leo’s mother had refused. Leo’s father’s collection of books sold for a surprisingly high sum many years... (full context)

Leo’s mother is “attracted by the things of the world” and is a much more social creature... (full context)

Back at home, Leo and his mother discuss the invitation to Brandham Hall. His mother is hesitant for him to be away... (full context)

As the day of departure grows near, Leo becomes nervous about the trip. He asks his mother to write to Mrs. Maudsley and tell her that Leo has contracted measles and can’t... (full context)

...his summer clothes. Not willing to admit he doesn’t really have any, he says that his mother must have accidentally left them out of his trunk. Mrs. Maudsley suggests he write to... (full context)

...Marcus’s room to look through Leo’s clothes. She admires how well mended they are (by Leo’s mother ) and asks whether Leo’s summer clothes are “a myth”: “you didn’t really have them?”... (full context)

...know how to swim. Marian says she’ll teach him, but Mrs. Maudsley won’t allow that. Leo’s mother has told her that he is prone to catching a cold, and accordingly Mrs. Maudsley... (full context)

...church, Leo thinks about the Zodiac. He then turns his thoughts to “being good,” which his mother often tells him to be. He doesn’t associate goodness with moral behavior but “abstraction”—“the perfection... (full context)

Arriving back at the Hall, Leo learns that there is a letter from his mother waiting for him. He takes it to the lavatory, preferring to read it in private,... (full context)

Leo writes a reply to his mother but feels he can only give a “feeble” account of his time so far. He... (full context)

...stay longer and says she will arrange it with Mrs. Maudsley. Leo says that his own mother would miss him, but that he’ll write home and ask. Leo then tells Marian Trimingham’s... (full context)

Leo writes a letter to his mother , outlining his current happiness and asking to stay at Brandham Hall for longer. Leo... (full context)

Leo writes his mother another letter, asking to come back home early. He tells her that his reasons for... (full context)

Leo awaits a telegram from his mother to summon him home, but it doesn’t arrive. He spends the day playing with Marcus,... (full context)

...be arriving later than planned tomorrow. Leo realizes that a telegram is too expensive for his mother and that most likely a letter will arrive from her very soon. (full context)

Wednesday morning comes, and there is still no letter from Leo’s mother . Leo thinks it’s probably a record-breaking high temperature, but resists going to the thermometer... (full context)

Back at the hall, a letter from Leo’s mother awaits him. But much to Leo’s surprise, the letter doesn’t summon him home. She says... (full context)

Leo’s mother thinks that it seems fair that Leo “run errands and take messages,” as Mrs. Maudsley... (full context)

Leo’s mother implores him to be patient and makes the point that the Maudsleys sound like good... (full context)

The letter from his mother disorientates Leo; he has no idea what to do next. He feels he is the... (full context)

A parcel has arrived from Leo’s mother . The accompanying note asks Leo to make sure to tell her if he really... (full context)

...contains a tie to go with his green suit (which she has heard about from Leo’s mother ). The group much prefers the tie Leo’s mother bought, but Trimingham gets Leo to... (full context)