Parental Figures and their Effect on Flourishing in Lark & Termite

The role of parental figures, present or absent, in this novel is central to its theme and the relationships of the novel. Most parental relationships in the novel are very atypical--from Lark’s concealed paternity, the absence of both parents in Termite’s case, Nick’s role as a single father, and even Leavitt’s lack of parental figures leads to many interesting events and makes for new replacement relationships. From the beginning of Lark’s life, Lola establishes parenthood as a gift and intended Lark because it was “the only way [Nonie and Charlie] will ever have a child” (149). She also wills Termite to “Lark’s baby… for Lark’s sake” (210). Nonie eventually takes on this view as well, when Gladdy dies Nonie cries at Gladdy’s loss because “she never enjoyed [Lark], never cared,” and never got to reap the joy of parenthood (208).

Readers characterize characters including Gladdy, Nonie, Charlie, Lola, and even Lark by their parental qualities, both positive and negative. Gladdy is one of the only present biological figures in the novel and she is portrayed as overbearing and cruel, illustrating that parenthood does not have to be based on genetics. The constant conflict between Nonie and Gladdy establishes them as foil characters and highlights the positive maternal characteristics of Nonie which are only magnified in Lark and her eternal patience, love, and understanding for Termite. Even Lola is shown as a good mother despite her absence as she goes through many logical and detailed steps to ensure the baby’s well-being before she takes her own life. The fact that she could have taken the baby with her and didn't because “she knew better” allows the reader to feel more favorably about her (233). She had a great understanding of Termite, like Lark does, knowing “how to sense him” and seeing him “move his fingers every moment he’s awake” (254).

Finally, even more emphasis is placed on the role of parents by Phillips use of the orange cat and Robert Stamble to embody phantoms of Termite’s parents, Lola and Bobby. This perpetuates the theme that the parental experiences that shape a person remain with them and continue to affect their happiness and ability to flourish whether their parents do or not. Character’s most central life decisions are often time based on their parental upbringings. Leavitt, for example, is drawn to Lola because she is older and reminds him of the mother figure which he lost-“” Furthermore, in  giving her his mother’s derringer, a symbol of his mother, with which Lola ends her own life and makes her ultimate choice to domino effect of parenthood continues affecting Termite and Lark now as well as they have mortally lost their mother.

The novel even concludes with the motif of parenthood: in returning to Lark and Termite to their mother’s house, Phillips concludes the novel with a sense of equilibrium as the protagonists return to their roots, in the form of their own little parental model (Solly and Lark in the parental roles over Termite).