The harmful effects of Howard's Freudian relationship with his Mother.

In “The Brooch” Faulkner conveys the relationship between the mother and that of her son, Howard, as parasitical and inhibitory. Faulkner also shows the negative effects of Freudian infatuation.
The reader is first made aware of this parasitical relationship when the narrator tells of the mother not allowing Howard to associate with the other boys, “he probably cold not have long associated with other children even if his mother had let him.” Another example of Howard’s mother’s parasite-like actions comes when he goes to college in Charleston and she moves there while he goes there. The relationship between Howard and his mother at its earliest stages is not fully elaborated on, but the remainder of the story shows the inhibitory effects which this relationship has on Howard’s life. The first example the reader encounters in this story of these inhibitory effects comes when it is mentioned that Howard averts his gaze from girls as they pass, “who hurried with averted head, even when his mother was not with him, past the young girls on the streets…” The next example of these inhibitory effects is the whole relationship between Howard and his wife Amy. Immediately upon hearing of her son’s relationship with Amy, the mother tries to discourage Howard by saying (while referring to Amy), “Don’t confuse the house with the stable.” The inhibitory effects also play on the relationship between Howard and Amy. These inhibitory effects are symbolized through the brooch. When Amy and Howard marry, Howard’s mother gives Amy the brooch which Amy wears throughout the marriage. Amy wears the brooch throughout the whole marriage, and she is trapped inside of Howard’s mother’s house. Amy wishes to move on several occasions, but Howard adamantly refuses. The night that Amy loses the brooch is, ironically, the night which she moves out of Howard’s mother’s house. There are also hints at unfaithfulness in Amy’s character, because she goes out dancing every night, but Howard does not care about Amy’s unfaithfulness; he just cares that his mother does not find out. Howard’s whole outlook on his marriage represents the effects of his infatuation with his mother. He should want to go out and be on his own, but he doesn’t. He should also care about Amy being unfaithful to him, but he doesn’t care about this either. These examples only represent the negative effects which his parasitical and inhibitory relationship he has with his mother. The last, punctuating effect which this relationship has on Howard is when he takes his own life.