Ever feel like your parents don't "get" you? Try having parents that aren't around enough to even try. In Tales of the Madman Underground, part of being a Madman is being abused, neglected, or rejected by the people who are supposed to be taking care of you. While they all have stories to tell about the travesties going on in their homes, Karl has it pretty bad in his own right—an alcoholic mother who's trying to "find herself" by partying and stealing her son's money, all while living in a house that's been taken over by feral cats. Ultimately, though, he finds relief when someone finally decides to step in and help him solve the problem.
Questions About Abandonment
- Maybe you come from a background of neglect and abuse. We hope you don't. But, regardless of your relationship with your family, which of the Madmen did you most identify with? Why?
- What are Beth's motivations for behaving the way she does toward her son? How did she end up the way she is?
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn plays a huge role in Karl's story. Why does Karl identify so much with Huck's story?
- If you were in Karl's position, what would you say to his mother?
Chew on This
Tales of the Madman Underground is a 1970s update of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
It's their own experiences of vulnerability that inspire Coach Gratz, Dick, and Bill to decide something has to be done about Karl's mom.