You don't know how to love people. You only know how to own them. And because people will never act just like you want them to, Mother, you'll always feel betrayed. And because eventually everybody dies, you'll always feel cheated. But you're the cheat, Mother. You're the one who uses our love for us to try to control us.
The quote from Orson Scott Card's "Xenocide" reflects a complex relationship between a mother and her children, highlighting issues of love and ownership. The speaker addresses the mother's inability to genuinely love individuals as unique beings, suggesting that instead, she seeks to possess them. This possessiveness leads to feelings of betrayal when people do not conform to her expectations, resulting in a cycle of disappointment.
The message emphasizes that the mother's controlling nature ultimately harms her relationships. As she tries to exert control over the love she receives, she becomes the source of her own discontent. The inevitability of loss through death exacerbates her feelings of being cheated. This passage serves as a poignant reminder that true love involves respect for autonomy rather than manipulation.
