The Fifth Child

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the time of birth, Harriet had conceived Ben as being a belligerent infant whose main purpose in the world was to harm. When he was in her womb, Ben would be “trying to tear its way out of her stomach (38),” in a rage of vigorous jabs and kicks. When Ben was born, he was a rebellious child, always trying to hurt something or someone. Only having been a couple months old, Ben broke Paul's arm. “...and Ben had grabbed the hand and pulled Paul hard against the bars, bending the arm deliberately backwards(58).” This deliberate action warned the rest of the children and Harriet to be careful. When Ben was around, Harriet did not avoid spending time with him but instead was more cautious while in his company. She would sometimes yell at him and threaten him and then be nice and try to teach him acts of kindness. “When she put her arms around him there was no response, no warmth, as if he did not feel her touch (96).” Harriet represents the handful of progressives, a ...

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