This story seemed to be a love story in a way. The narrator probably didn’t realize it, but I think he needed a better mother figure in his life and this came about through Mrs. Honigbaum. Their relationship was something he needed in order to feel valid. He didn’t see that much success within his acting career, but he was successful in finding someone who cared for him. I think that his mother definitely cared for him, but not in the way that he wanted. I think he craved a more tender love. The narrator of this story definitely transformed by the end in my opinion. He was very arrogant and was probably still that way by the end, but I think he came to accept his loneliness and how it seemed to be resolved through Mrs. Honigbaum.
“Nothing Ever Happens Here”
Mar 17th, 2021 by Natalie
Yes, the narrator definitely craved maternal affection. Mrs. Honigbaum was the supportive and tender mother he didn’t see in his own mother. The end of the story implies that there is a relationship between the two characters and he does value her in the way he didn’t his mother. You make an interesting point when you say that “I think his mother definitely cared for him, but not in the way that he wanted.” Was her love bad for him? Was he selfish in how he viewed his mother?
I agree with your thoughts on that, not only do I not think that his mother loved him in a way that he didn’t want but we also saw how it pushed him away. He was convinced that she hated him or thought that he was a disappointment. In terms of craving a tender love, I think that he also just wanted someone who showed genuine pride in him, which Mrs. Honigbaum did. I also agree that he changed by the end, while he’s still naïve and arrogant I do think that if Mrs. Honigbaum were to suggest different tips to improve his acting skills, maybe a different career path, or even gently nudge him towards trying to repair his relationship with his mother he would be open to it. He definitely seems less sure of himself by the end of the story, and I think that he would probably be a little less quick to jump to conclusions as well.
I definitely agree that the narrator’s relationship with Mrs. Honigbaum helped him realize his loneliness and his craving for motherly affection. Mrs. Honigbaum is basically a substitute for the affection that he wants and craves so bad. However, I worry that within this story, Mrs. Honigbaum is grooming the narrator by trying to break down his emotional walls so that she can get with him. By manipulating a young man who is down on his luck, she can get the satisfaction she is craving and lacks in her life.