How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I didn't say he didn't love her; I said he don't want to be near her. Sure he love her. That's only natural. He's not the one who's not natural. She is." (1.506)
Deep down, Ondine knows a little something about why Michael might not want to be around his mother. We don't know it yet, but Ondine is aware that Margaret hurt Michael intentionally when he was a baby. That's why she thinks that Margaret is "not natural," since mothers are supposed to naturally want to protect their babies from harm… at least according to Ondine.
Quote #5
And she was outraged by that infant needfulness. There were times when she absolutely had to limit its being there; stop its implicit and explicit demand for her best and constant self. (8.24)
Margaret had a tough time as a young mother. She was overwhelmed and lonely. But that still doesn't excuse her habit of hurting her son Michael because she hated how dependent he was on her. Sure he demanded that she always be at her best and always be available to him. Then again, he was a baby. That's kind of what babies do.
Quote #6
So she told him the part that was palatable: that she could not control herself—which was true, for when she felt hostage to that massive insolence, that stupid trust, she could not help piercing it. (8.24)
In short, Margaret felt like she had to hurt her son Michael when he was a baby. He made her feel like she was in prison. Hmm, we still can't muster that much pity for Margaret. Sure, Valerian was off at work all the time, but Margaret's only job was to take care of the baby. Parenting is tough stuff, but Margaret totally has servants to help her out. Sorry, Marg. We're not going to cut you slack on this one.