Characters
She is the lame woman at the center of the story.
Who is Sophy Twycott?
The story begins with Sophy watching a band concert from here.
What is a wheelchair?
“Has, dear mother—not have!” is said by
Who is Randolph?
These carts, full of produce, symbolize life and vitality that Sophy can only watch pass by her window.
What are the Covent Garden wagons?
It is ironic that Sophy once served as this in Twycott’s household before marrying him.
What is a parlour-maid?
He is Sophy’s educated but cold son.
Who is Randolph?
Sophy first meets Sam again when he is driving one of these.
What is a vegetable wagon?
“Lame or not lame, I cannot let you go” is spoken by this man.
Who is Reverend Twycott?
This “long, straight road” becomes the backdrop for Sophy’s lonely widowhood.
What is a South London Street?
Sophy gains “higher” social status through marriage, but loses this in return.
What is her happiness / freedom?
Sophy’s first suitor, later a green grocer.
Who is Sam Hobson?
Sophy secretly rides with Sam here in the early morning.
What is Covent Garden?
“I am ashamed of you! It will ruin me!” is Randolph’s reaction to this.
What is Sophy’s desire to marry Sam Hobson?
This repetitive hairstyle symbolizes Sophy’s wasted time and constrained life.
What is her braided hair?
Randolph’s “veto” over his mother’s life is ironic because of this family role reversal.
What is the child controlling the parent?
This clergyman married Sophy after losing his first wife.
Who is Reverend Twycott?
Reverend Twycott moves Sophy from Gaymead to this place.
Where is South London?
“You don’t know that you’ll stay on… I shall be ready to offer [a home] one day” — who says this?
Who is Sam Hobson?
The noisy clang of this object contrasts with her old country bells.
What is the church bell?
Sophy sacrifices her happiness for her son, but he shows none of this in return.
What is love/gratitude?
He corrects his mother’s grammar harshly in the park.
Who is Randolph?
Sophy fears marrying Sam would cause her to lose this.
What is her inheritance?
“She longed for home—our home!” shows Sophy’s yearning for this.
What is Gaymead / her village life with Sam?
Sophy’s inability to do this activity becomes a symbol of her overall powerlessness.
What is walk freely?
Sophy’s refinement efforts (like grammar) ironically highlight her lack of this.
What is lack of education/grammar?
Sophy’s husband knew this decision was “social suicide.”
What is marrying his servant?
This major sporting event sets the scene when Sophy tries to broach remarriage to her son.
What is the Lord’s cricket match?
“He knew he had committed social suicide” refers to what event?
What is Reverend Twycott marrying Sophy?
This sporting event, full of luxury and exclusivity, symbolizes Randolph’s class world that excludes Sophy.
What is the Lord’s cricket match?
The irony of Sophy’s accident is that it secures her marriage but causes this lifelong limitation.
What is lameness?
Sophy compares her son’s belonging to her versus belonging to this person.
Who is his Rev. Twycott?
Randolph reacts to Sophy’s marriage idea with this strong emotion.
What is shame/anger?
“Why mayn’t I say to Sam that I’ll marry him?” reveals Sophy’s struggle with this.
What is her son’s veto / loss of agency?
Sam’s shop at the end symbolizes this “might-have-been” for Sophy.
What is her chance for happiness?
Sophy is trapped between Sam, who offers love, and Randolph, who offers this.
What is control / social respectability?
This man enforces a vow before an altar, ensuring Sophy never remarries.
Who is Randolph?
At the end, Sam is seen outside his shop as this solemn procession passes.
What is Sophy's funeral procession?
“I owe this to my father!” is Randolph’s justification for what?
What is forcing Sophy to swear she won’t marry Sam?
The title “The Son’s Veto” itself is a motif of this overarching idea.
What is lack of female agency?
The title itself is ironic because it suggests Sophy has this, when she really does not.
What is a choice / agency?