There were many types of love illustrated throughout the novel Harp in the South, each having different effects on the people involved. The love that existed between Tommy and Roie was in an exploitative form, as Tommy only used Roie for purely selfish reasons.
Tommy benefited from the relationship as he gained the sexual experience he was searching for, however, Roie was permanently changed due to the pregnancy she faced and her loss of innocence. Mumma and Roie also shared a strong form of unconditional love, which was shown through many situations both characters experienced.Mumma's view of Roie changed after the miscarriage as she realised her daughter was no longer innocent, however, the love they shared still remained strong. Mumma also shared a strong love which had surpassed the romantic stage and was pure and true. She shared this love with Hughie, her husband. Both attempted to change bad habits or give up certain things for the other, which was a sign that they truly loved one another.
Alike her parents, Roie also shared a marital love with her husband Charlie, however, their love was still in the romantic stage.Roie changed due to her love for Charlie, as she had the oppurtunity to forget her terrible past of miscarrige and look forward to her new life with Charlie. Charlie too changed due to his love for Roie as he was able to have a family of his own, which he had never had before. Tommy and Roie shared a relationship that consisted of exploitative love. Tommy's motives for the love were "clouded with selfishness" (pg. 165) due to his unusual foot and need to experience sexual pleasure.
Tommy only loved Roie as she induced him in a "sense of importance and a sequence of pleasurable events" (pg. 4) which was a selfish way to treat her.Roie was naive and protected from the ways of the world. She felt a huge sense of "pity" (pg. 85) and sympathy towards Tommy, which is why she allowed herself to satisfy him physically. The exploitative love between Tommy and Roie was a turning point for the girl, and changed her life dramatically.
Roie became pregnant and was therefore forced to grow up and realise she was no longer innocent. Roie also had to face the fact that she was seen differently by others, especially her mother, Mumma.Mumma and Roie shared unconditional love for one another. Their love persisted through any problems or issues faced. Mumma was proud of her daughter Roie, this was because she was a good child and had always followed the rules her mother set.
The unconditional love Mumma had for Roie was shown through many circumstances, such as the pregnancy and miscarriage Roie had. Roie's pregnancy changed Mumma, as she had to realise her daughter was no longer an innocent child. Mumma became a "different woman" (pg. 115) due to her daughters miscarriage.
Despite the fact Mumma was disappointed in her daughters actions, she still remained loyal and helped Roie return to health, which is an indication of unconditional love. Roie was also affected by her miscarriage, she had to live with the fact that she had disappointed her mother by going against the morals she had been taught. Another form of love that existed during the novel Harp in the South was the true love between Mumma and Hughie. The love they shared surpassed the romantic stage, and was pure and true.Although Hughie was drunk, loud and somewhat abusive a large amount of the time, Mumma still sacrificed items such as food so that her husband could receive a larger amount, which shows Mumma's true love for Hughie. Hughie also showed true love for his wife when he attempted to surprise her by winning the lottery and letting her mother stay at their home until she passed away.
Mumma and Hughie's love may not have affected them during the novel, but it definitely effected the loving, caring and "lucky" environment they considered themselves to live in.Like her parents, Roie also found true love, however, during the novel Harp in the South her love with Charlie only existed in its new romantic stage. Roie felt differently for Charlie than she did for her former love, Tommy. Roie found that "falling in love with Charlie was different from falling in love with Tommy" (pg. 165) as she did not feel pity or sympathy for Charlie, just love.
Both Charlie and Roie were changed due to the love they shared. Roie's love for Charlie helped her to erase her dreadful past love with Tommy, and look to the future with anticipation rather than dread.Charlie had always felt the need to seek "refuge within himself" (pg. 183) and hide from the "cold and cruel world" (pg. 183) but Roies' love made "the little boy" (pg 183) within him return. Love was a major theme throughout this novel and was therefore shown in many forms through various relationships.
The love between Tommy and Roie was exploitative and changed both characters, especially Roie. Roie was forced to realise she was no longer and innocent child. The unconditional love between Roie and Mumma was evident during the novel, and both characters were effected by it.Mummas' view of Roie was altered, as she learnt her daugter was no longer innocent, and Roie also faced that she had to live with the mistakes she had made and the way they effected other people. Mumma and Hughie's true love was another major relationship which effected the way the Darcy family lived and made their lives somewhat happier. The true love between Roie and Charlie was also true, but still existed in its romantic stage.
Both Roie and Charlie were changed due to their love, as they were both able to forget sadness and problems from their past lives and had something special to look forward to.
