The relationships between a mother and a son are characterized by an overwhelming feeling of protection and care. In poetry, this theme is frequently discussed by many authors, and Sharon Olds is one of them. Her poem “My Son the Man” introduces maternal fears about the period when her son grows up. To deliver the message in a unique way, Olds uses a number of literary devices, including metaphors and similes. However, an allusion to Houdini is the strongest tool that depicts her attitudes toward the son and the situation. In “My Son the Man”, Olds combines pride, sadness, and hope through the prism of Houdini’s allusion to explain why the idea of the child’s escape leads to unpredictable outcomes.
Not many parents are ready to let their children go when the time comes. They use different reasons to postpone the moment of separation, including the inability of the world to treat their children well or the presence of threats to personal safety (Riley). Olds uses the word “suddenly” at the beginning of her poem, which explains why this transition could be painful for the mother. She “cannot imagine him/ no longer a child,” but she “must get ready” to deal with her “fear of men” the son becomes (Olds). She is challenged by the necessity to choose one position, which is not her weakness but the most powerful quality. The mother understands that she has already done everything possible to protect her child and create the most favorable conditions, calling them “the golden interior” (Olds). However, to make her son a real man, she has to let him go, and Olds offers an appropriate way to assess the situation with the help of literary devices.
Those who know nothing about Harry Houdini could hardly understand the message that Olds wants to introduce. This man was a great magician, known for his abilities to escape from anything, even being tied or handcuffed (Schwartz). In the poem, the author used the name of Houdini two times. First, her intention was to underline the readiness of the son to change something in his like “the way Houdini would expand his body/ while people were putting him in chains” (Olds). This allusion tells about the physical qualities of the person and the importance of the external factors imposed by society. The power of allusion is also supported by the use of the metaphor, “chains,” symbolizing threats and dangers the mother could not predict. Still, she is also the one who “chained” the boy.
At the end of the poem, the name of Houdini was mentioned again. Following his techniques, the son “studied a box/ to learn the way out” (Olds). Houdini was an expert, and all his attempts ended in success. Therefore, the son “smiled and let himself be manacled,” but not because of his weakness or inabilities (Olds). The reader is free to interpret this allusion in multiple ways. It could be a chance for the mother to be with the son, a game that he wanted to play to demonstrate his skills, or a mockery.
The position of the mother remains unstable and full of doubts, which proves how complex the relationships between parents and children are. The allusion serves as a tool to explain how the maturity of an individual provokes additional questions. Not much attention was paid to age or gender differences. The main idea is to show the needs of escape, sudden but expected. In fact, mothers do everything possible to support their children, prepare them for a new world, and develop a number of significant qualities. As soon as their sons are ready to take a step, mothers understand that it is they who are not prepared.
The allusion chosen by Olds for “My Son the Man” makes the poem a unique piece of poetry where individual characteristics are intertwined with social expectations. Parents are responsible for the development of their children and use available resources for support and protection. Sometimes, they are ready to let everything go and enjoy their achievements and results. Still, mothers cannot neglect the power of the bonds they create with sons, provoking the latter to follow the Houdini’s plan of escape.
Works Cited
Olds, Sharon. “My Son the Man.” Poetry Foundation, 2020. Web.
Riley, Naomi Schaefer. “Why Parents Are Scared to Let Their Kids Grow up.” The New York Post, 2015, Web.
Schwartz, Shelly. “Biography of Harry Houdini.” ThoughtCo, 2020, Web.