Analysis Of Bates Motel

Bates Motel, a television show based off of the original movie Psycho, follows the events of a serial killer in his childhood and his inevitable path to the infamous satanic creation of Norman Bates. This prequel offers something very different in the world of television, developing an awkward relationship between a mother and her son. However, the actions portrayed by Norma and Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, develop into a deeper meaning of motherhood and the impossible expectations placed upon it. The small town in which they live judge them for their unsociable ways and place burdens upon their way of life, ultimately forming their outcast from society and Norma’s ignorance of properly caring for Norman. Within

This type of bond can be clearly seen in Bates Motel through the relationship of Norma and Norman, though exaggerated, their relationship is more a sexual relationship then anything. Displayed within the show, true taboo love coexists between the two, and the image of single motherhood is to blame the awkward bond between both of them. The audience gets a taste of this right from the beginning, in season one episode two of the show, Norma changes her blouse right in front of her son as awkwardly wants to look but does not, with her telling him that she is his mom so it is not abnormal. These scenes are what captivate the untold truth of the relationship that the audience seems to put past them due to the awkwardness of it. Through the sexuality, it can be seen how Norma has little clue on how to properly raise and treat her kids by herself, within the journal MILFS and Matrons: Images and Realities of Mothers’ Sexuality, Beth Montemurro writes, “There seems to be a notion that once a woman has children she is first and foremost an example, and must be responsible and conservative in a culturally specific way” (367). Once a mother, the women’s image changes as she now becomes a role model for their kids and therefore is expected to act the part. Within Bates Motel, Norma feels these needs to be a proper mother, but not in the correct way. She undoubtedly blocks almost every girl out of Norman’s social life, overly protects Norman, and gives no other attempts of parenting to her other son, Dylan. Thus demonstrating a vivid example of how through their sexual tension, Norman is unable to properly care for her children, she desperately attempts to be the good girl, or in this case the good mother, on television and set limits on Norman, but not the limits one would expect from a mom. Another example