The Lives of Animals

“Because Costello is his mother’s maiden name, and because he has never seen any reason to broadcast his connection with her, it was not known at the time of the invitation that Elizabeth Costello, the Australian writer, had a family connection in the Appleton community. He would have preferred that state of affairs to continue.”

John says that he is proud of his mother and only wants to avoid public knowledge of their connection because he does not want to be impacted by her fame. However, his attitude toward Elizabeth suggests John lacks respect for Elizabeth and her ideals. He is embarrassed by his mother’s strong views, and he does not want his colleagues judging him for his mother’s views. John is portrayed as having a positive view of himself, yet his actions towards Elizabeth bely his self-centered nature.

“Norma and his mother have never liked each other. Probably his mother would have chosen not to like any woman he married.”

John’s feeling that his mother would not have accepted anyone that he had married cannot be trusted as an accurate representation of Elizabeth’s feelings. He is an unreliable narrator who is biased because he does not value his mother’s views. The discord between Norma and Elizabeth is evident in their treatment and assumptions of one another. 

“His mother is entitled to her convictions, he believes. If she wants to spend her declining years making propaganda against cruelty to animals, that is her right.”

John understands that Elizabeth has a right to her beliefs and actions, but he does not respect her feelings and behaviors. He sees Elizabeth’s opinions as a form of propaganda, and he is bitter about her coming to Appleton College and giving her lectures. John also demonstrates his bias against elderly individuals by using the language “declining years.” “Propaganda” is used as an emotionally charged pejorative to describe Elizabeth’s evidently sincerely held beliefs.