a w a k e : t o : d r e a m

For the most part, reading Madame Doubtfire involves a grimace, one eye shut tight and a lip bitten slightly to prevent outbursts of protest. I have read this far in the book holding it far from myself, half in disbelief at what I was reading. But there have been one or two moments of lucidity among the bitter outbursts and tears of alarm. I’m really fascinated with the discussion that Daniel and his older children have about Madame Doubtfire just before Daniel wrote his letter of resignation. The older children felt that it was getting to awkward, too hard to spend time with their real father while he was being Doubtfire and too difficult to relax lest the secret get out. Their talk with their father about acting seemed to be the absolute heart of what the whole book was about, and I found myself wishing that this discussion was developed more, and that the questions it raised actually investigated and addressed.

I think almost every child who experiences a divorce wonders why the parent who leaves couldn’t have stayed longer, worked harder or pretended a bit to make it work, and this question what Daniel and his kids in Madame Doubtfire wrestle with in a rare moment of reality. I can completely understand that question, especially in the light of the acting that Daniel is doing as Madame Doubtfire already - it’s hard to understand why he couldn’t accomplish the job in his own skin.

I’m so sad for this family. Just this one exchange made the children seem more three-dimensional as characters, desperately wanting their father to be able to make it work with their mom. I think it shows how immature Daniel is as a parent that instead of understanding what it is that they were really wanting (i.e. understanding of why a marriage can’t be held together by determination, affirmation that he’s still willing to go to whatever lengths to keep their childhood together. I wonder why it is that Daniel can’t see it - I suppose that he is still blinded by his bitterness, but when his kids lay it all out so plainly it just makes me shake my head. I can’t help thinking that if this were indeed reality that parents like these would have caught on long ago. It simply contributes to the unbelieveability of the novel.