Stitches: Authority in Family and Society

Amy Gao

Stitches: Authority in Family and Society

Authority is a basic element in the structure of our social life. It appears in any kind of relationships, whether it’s a relationship between family members or a relationship between individual and society. Authority usually demands obedience or acceptance from the dependent group. Stitches written by David Small, “The War of The World” broadcast version directed by Orson Welles, and “The White Problem” by James Baldwin introduce the theme of authority, but authority is presented in different relationship and also responded in different ways.

In the book Stitches, the authoritative relationship is established between David’s mother and David. The mother serves an authoritarian in their family. However, this authority has been constantly challenges by David. When David’s mother and David go to the hospital to meet with his father, David’s mother specifically asks David not to play with wheelchairs and do not go near the elevators. As a six-years-old kid, David is still playful and habitually disobeys his mother’s order. He rolls wheelchair speedily in the hallway and takes elevator to every floor in the hospital. When the mother finds out that David lost his shoes in the hospital, she slaps David and establishes her authority by punishing David to go to bed without supper.

In the book, the mother is always frowned and rarely smiles or laughs when she is with David. Her facial expression gives David and also the readers a feeling of coldness and unapproachable characteristic. There is an example of the mother showing her parental authority to David but at same time she shares this authority with the father. The father has got his promotion in his job then he decides to take the mother to shopping. They bought a new car and new furniture. After their shopping spree, at the night, the mother and the father want to talk to David. Differently, this time David’s father is the one who does the actual talk....