monotypes vs monoprints

Recently, I was re-reading Everneath by Brodi Ashton to write its recap and something struck me about the underlying plot. I chose to ignore it and move on, but then I started reading its sequel, Everbound, which forced me to pause and wonder about it. Why are absent mothers such a common theme when it comes to young adult fiction? So I went hunting.

One of the views is that female protagonists need to experience some kind of a jolt to come to terms with their individuality. In other words, they need a defining moment in their lives in order to grow up. So if a mother leaves, dies or is somehow not directly involved in her daughter’s life, it is bound to bring about a change in her life. The different scenarios branch out and the character can be made to feel any possible number of emotions. In the absence of a motherly figure, the protagonist starts making decisions on her own which often have dramatic consequences. The main result however, is self-sufficiency. One way or the other, the protagonist is forced to rely on self and to abandon their trusting nature.

Each one of us have experienced the feeling of not fitting into society at some point and on some level in our lives. In the case of a protagonist without a mother, it gives an experience to them that only they can relate to. It is not something they want to be defined by, but they do want to be respected for it. The process of basic human development is a change of perspective; a realization that the world we live in is not the ideal world of childhood but a harsh and discouraging reality. Throwing in an absent mother quickens that process and dramatically influences the fitting-into-society part of life in a story. More often than not, protagonists seem to develop a hard exterior as a way of protecting themselves from similar experiences, which makes fitting into society a difficult venture. Yet it can be overcome by way of maturity on the character’s part.

During my research, I came across the phrase bildungsroman [bil-doongz-roh-mahn] being used to express the process of maturity of a young protagonist in a novel. The growth can be moral, psychological, social, intellectual, or spiritual. A majority of classic literature focuses on some kind of a growth and this recurs in the young adult fiction of today. There’s even a Goodreads list comprising of the best in bildungsroman fiction or coming-of-age stories. Harry Potter in one such series and it would’ve been vastly different if there was a motherly figure involved in Harry’s life. The absence of his parents, especially his mother, gave him a certain depth of character.

However, in the strictest sense, most of young adult fiction are not bildungsroman due to the short period of time such events take place in the protagonist’s life. Enduring pain formulates an identity and pain that comes from losing a maternal figure combined with themes of survival is an important element of fiction. In her article, A Girl’s Life, Stacey May Fowles states it perfectly:

In the end, everyone has their own way of dealing with grief and books simply open our minds via all the characters we come across. I find it fascinating to read books with such themes because every author uses a different approach. Of course, I’ve just scratched the surface of the subject matter in question and it turned out to be a monoprint in fiction. However, it is definitely one that I want to read more of.