The Enduring Chill

            In the short story "The Enduring Chill" by Flannery O"Connor there is a very strong relationship between mother and son. Asbury, the son, is a college student who constantly comes home to see his mother because he is not feeling well. .
             The protagonist, Asbury Fox, is obviously at absolute dependence to his mother. He is maternally dependant and has no sense of self. A reason this might be is because of the absence of his father. He is an angry teen that is bottled up, trying to grow up, yet is still very depending on his mother. Not having that fatherly figure in his life has made him angry towards the world. Subconsciously his mother is his protector from the outside world.
             The mother is very concerned for her son, but she knows he does these things for her attention indirectly. Mrs. Fox wants to help Asbury but he does not want the help of his mother, he would rather feel sorry for himself. Asbury gets himself so worked up; he makes himself sick and tells people he is going to die.
             The relationship between mother and son is clear. They are closer then they both realize. They thrive on each other to live, the son more then the mother.