My unhealthy affection for my second daughter has waned. Now I despise all my seven children equally

My unhealthy affection for my second daughter has waned. Now I despise all my seven children equally

In the world of Evelyn Waugh, a renowned English writer known for his satirical novels, the idea of a parent despising all of their children equally is not entirely far-fetched. Waugh's works often explore themes of dysfunctional families, social class, and the darker aspects of human nature. In his novel "A Handful of Dust," for example, the protagonist Tony Last finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage and ultimately loses everything he holds dear.

In the context of Waugh's writing, the notion of a parent's unhealthy affection for one child waning and turning into disdain for all of their children is a reflection of the complexities of familial relationships. In many of Waugh's works, characters struggle with their own inner demons and often fail to live up to societal expectations of parenthood. The idea of a parent despising their children equally speaks to the idea that love and affection are not always unconditional, and that relationships within families can be fraught with tension and resentment.