Mother Case

The novel is about a social worker named Stephen Bentley, and his try to persuade the mother named Mrs. Khan, that her mentally retarded daughter should go to a special school, instead of a normal. But the mother will not face the fact, that her daughter is retarded, therefore she do everything to convince Stephen, that there is nothing wrong with her.

The story is told in first person narrative, by the main character Stephen Bentley, we follow him and his thoughts and observations. In the novel Stephen got the mission to convince Mrs. Khan that her child is retarded, and it would be best for her, to go to a special school. Stephen has a lot of analysing thoughts and observations, an example of this could be

"His white teeth, his bright blue jersey, the white collar of his shirt, all dazzled, and behind him the small room crammed with furniture was too tidy for a family room"

This is from his first sight of Hassan and the apartment, I think we get a great look on how describing, and analysing Stephen is, he don't even say hallo before analysing the place, he also describes the boy really detailed.

I think Stephen is a great social worker, he works hard to get Shireen to a special school, because it is better for her, at the end he writes "Father did not turn up as arranged. His presence essential" This means that the 'war' with the mother is not over, Stephen or a colleague would try again.

The mother Mrs. Khans outfit is described as something like a pyjamas, which is a really relaxing outfit, and not so fine as the rest of the apartment. She will not face that her daughter is sub normal, and this is the main conflict. I think it is because of her culture. The family comes from Pakistan, where retarded people are intercepted from society. She will not face it, she is too proud. In the start she tries to prove that she normal "Five, [...] She can count. Say Five, Shireen"(page 153, line 5) But this fails, Shireen don't even answer, because she live in her own world, this could also be a sign for the mother, but again she will not admit it, she just want a normal kid. Shireen seems to be happy, even though she get scolded, the reason to this could be that she live in her own world, and therefore she does not take notice that her mother is frustrated.