Daily Archives: Sunday, 20 September 2009

A mother’s initial investment far surpasses a father’s initial investment. At the very beginning, both are equal: one egg; one sperm. Then with incredible rapidity the investment of the mother far exceeds the investment of the father. The child develops in her body and she puts her life on the line in bringing the baby into the world. It is owing to this difference that the story Sophie’s Choice is done in terms of the mother rather than the father. The Nazi asks the mother to choose which one of her two sons shall live and which one shall die. Instinctively, intuitively, and at a most profound visceral level, we automatically understand the mother’s angst. With a father, the very same sentiments on our part do not get off the ground in a like manner; and this difference is owing to none other than the striking difference that between a mother and a father in terms of the role they play in bringing a child into this world. Continue reading →