Weekly Blog #7

While both Quinn’s parents and Emma’s parents have inherently bullied their children into destructive behavior, it comes as no shock that Glee’s “ultimate bully,” Sue Sylvester, was once subject to cruel parental bullying.  As seen in Season One’s episode, “Furt,” Sue’s mother comes to McKinley High as Sue, coincidently, is planning a wedding to marry herself.  The phrase, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” can’t help but describe this mother-daughter relationship.  Doris Sylvester’s blunt, condescending tone and banter match Sue’s persona to a “T.”  But, as it is quickly revealed, this Nazi-hunting “mother” often abandoned Sue and her older sister, Jean, to go on gallivanting quests to destroy any remaining, hidden Nazis, much to Sue’s dismay and disgust. It is Doris’ self-righteous mannerism, however, that makes her the only one, perhaps, who can bring down the narcissistic exterior of Sue Sylvester.  Doris’s subtle jabs at Sue’s being, perhaps hinting at undiscovered insecurity in response to her mother’s actions as the underlying reason for Sue’s despicable behavior, that leave but a juxtaposing, silent, and timid Sue Sylvester: “I mean, when you were little, the other mothers used to tell me that you'd never find anybody. But I said no, no, no, no. She's a perfectly okay child. She'll grow into her looks. And you know what? I believe you still might.”

             Doris Sylvester’s track record of parental shame and neglect as well as her naïve and arrogant habits continue even throughout the wedding plans as she demands to sing a song at Sue’s wedding.  However, contrary to the popular notion that the “bride” gets to make the decisions, Sue cannot even pick the song her mother will sing as it will cause pain and disappointment for Doris—a “guilt-trip” in it’s finest light.  These instances conceivably lead to the very core of the Sue Sylvester bully; an abandoned and lonely soul attempting to survive in a world built by relationships in a self-sufficient way, after years of suffering from vulnerability, insecurity, and repression, all stemming from toxic parenthood: “You’re a bully, mother…I can remember a conversation where I didn’t walk away feeling worse about myself.”