Their Child

"Their Child" by Robert Herrick is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story explores the complex dynamics of family life, focusing on the challenges faced by parents as they navigate their relationships and responsibilities toward their child amid emotional turmoil. It reflects on themes such as parental anxiety, the nature of moral inheritance, and the fears surrounding childhood behavior. The narrative follows Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, whose young son, Oscar, exhibits troubling behavior that escalates into violence. The plot begins with a gathering at their home, where the family's struggles become apparent when Oscar lashes out, leading to a significant incident involving his nurse. As the story unfolds, Mrs. Simmons grapples with the fear that their child's aggression is linked to a genetic inheritance from his paternal grandfather, Oscar Svenson, a man known for violent outbursts. The tension between the couple mounts as they confront their child's potential fate, revealing their own insecurities and various coping strategies, including social outings and external relationships. Ultimately, they must reconcile their fears and unite as parents to fight for the well-being of their son, illustrating the profound effects of past legacies on contemporary lives. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Welch Herrick was a novelist who was part of a new generation of American realists. His novels deal with the turbulence of industrialized society and the turmoil it can create in sensitive, isolated people. He was also briefly acting-Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in 1935.