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“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness” – Aristotle. I generally like to start

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“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness” – Aristotle. I generally like to start off an essay with a quote that seems to encapsulate the whole feeling or energy of the novel or in this case a biography that seemed to resonate with myself the most. This was quite a different book to read in that I had never read a book about someone written completely by someone else. I found some bits of this book to be quite engaging, but yet other parts seem to fall short, because I am not musically inclined whatsoever and found it to be quite difficult to follow, but the parts that discussed the peculiar parts and bits of Glenn’s life were quite riveting to read. Glenn’s upbringing seemed to be different from the “typical” Canadian …show more content…

Glenn was very much a “momma’s boy” whereas with his father the bond that is so necessary, was completely absent. There generally needs to be an even divide between both parents when it comes to roles. Dads are typically rougher with their sons but moms are more nurturing. Glenn seemed to get too much of one and none of the other. Glenn couldn’t take criticism because he was babied by his mother his whole childhood and did not receive any tough love from his father that many need. Attachment is defined as: “ The Capacity to form and maintain healthy and emotional relationships” (FIND DEFINITION) it can be an enduring bond with a small amount of significant people and it evokes love, safety, security in both parties. In Glenn’s case I think that only some of those boxes were ticked and with certain people. His mom was the single most important person in his life, which is why I find it difficult to pin one specific attachment on him because even though the attachment with his mom seemed secure, but yet seemed insecure at the same time just because Glenn’s mom really was the only significant person in his life for a really long time and he never really had anyone else. “ ‘Glenn always felt very close to his mother. It was the complete dominance of the mother-child relationship, of this overpowering motherhood. I’m sure Bert never felt nearly as close to Glen as he would have liked, and his fondness for Glenn was never really reciprocated.’ ”

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