We Need to Talk About Kevin Question #2

[Emily]

Is Eva's view of Kevin colored by her ambivalence about motherhood in general, or perhaps by hindsight knowledge of his eventual violence? Is Eva responsible for creating a child she sees as a monster, or was he a monster all along?

[Kay]

Franklin was the more social,gregarious one. So if it's "nature" the inclinations are from Eva. If it's "nuture" that's from Eva too.
Yet many kids grow up in horrible circumstances that have no comparison to Kevins indulgent life(addict parents,cigarette burns,etc) and do not go out and murder other human beings. Some actually are very helpful, compassionate people.

[Emily]

I think it is both. In a way, Eva is responsible for Kevin becoming a monster because he takes on a lot of her demeanor, and she drank wine during the pregnancy.

[Beth]

I don't think Eva created a monster. He was born difficult, no one's fault. But both parents did raise a monster, particularly the father, not Eva.

My husband and his first wife had two kids. The first, a girl, was a horrid baby. She was born that way, no one's fault. Neither parent liked to discipline her as she got older. Yes, she's been in and out of jail.

I think it was as simple as Franklin not wanting to discipline Kevin.

[Emily]

That's a great point Beth! My fiance has a cousin whose kid is constantly out of control, yet she does not discipline him despite relatives telling her to do so.

[Beth]

As for the wine, Eva didn't drink enough to affect her fetus, did she? Maybe she did; I forget. But Franklin didn't want her to drink at all, which was unreasonable even if I do agree with him about that.