The Push: Mother. Daughter. Angel. Monster?

Blythe is envious that Violet accepts love, patience, and affection from her father but not her mother. In turn, the more affection Fox gives Violet, the less he has to give to Blythe. Subtle intimacies go missing from their marriage, and resentment fills that void.

At seven months, Violet starts napping for more than 20 minutes, giving Blythe the opportunity to write again. However, when Violet wakes after two hours, Blythe often puts on headphones and lets her baby cry for even hours as she continues writing. One day, Fox comes home early and catches Blythe writing and listening to headphones while Violet screams from the nursery. He rushes to Violet, telling her, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” (56).

That night, Fox coldly tells Blythe that she needs to see a therapist. For years, Blythe will remember that day with shame.

In Blythe’s childhood home, the basement is kept boarded up; Cecilia still cannot bear enclosed spaces because of the time Etta locked her in the pickle cellar. On a particularly hot day,