A Town Called Solace

A Town Called Solace explores the complexities of relationships, especially those that can raise complicated feelings and motivations. The most important of these relationships is the dynamic between Mrs. Orchard and young Liam, which brings both benefits and problems to both parties.

When Mrs. Orchard first establishes a bond with Liam, their relationship appears relatively uncomplicated. Annette is grateful for Mrs. Orchard’s help with Liam, and Liam also becomes happy and comfortable in the Orchards’ home, which he remembers even as an adult as a very fulfilling experience. In caring for Liam, Mrs. Orchard also experiences joy and satisfaction, as it is both an outlet for indulging her own maternal instincts and, she tells herself, an important source of love and attention for Liam.

However, it gradually becomes apparent over the course of Mrs. Orchard’s flashbacks that this relationship was far more complex than it initially appeared. Mrs. Orchard’s motives are not entirely selfless and altruistic: Instead, she becomes overly attached to Liam, using her bond with him as an unhealthy coping mechanism for the depression she feels over her own infertility. Instead of truly helping Annette, she seeks to replace her in Liam’s affections and even fantasizes about taking Liam away from his family for good. She refuses to listen to anyone criticize her over-involvement with the boy: She shuns her husband’s well-meaning advice, and she responds to Annette’s outburst by kidnapping Liam, which puts everyone’s well-being at serious risk.

Mrs. Orchard’s self-growth demonstrates her acceptance that healthy relationships need to have boundaries for the sake of both parties. When she reconnects with Liam decades later, she does so cautiously and with his needs and those of his family in mind. She does not seek to come between him and his mother again, and instead maintains a friendly correspondence with him. Her dynamic with Clara is also markedly different from that she had with the young Liam: She is fond of Clara but never attempts to alienate her from her family, even admitting to herself that Clara is more attached to visiting Moses than visiting her, which does not bother her. Even when she senses that Liam might be unhappy from the tone of his letters, she does not pry or attempt to take advantage of the situation by becoming closely involved: Instead, she leaves him her house and estate, trusting that the financial freedom will help him in some way, however he may choose to use it.

Thus, Mrs. Orchard and Liam’s bond functions as both a cautionary tale and as an example of a warm and enduring connection: In learning how to truly consider and accommodate Liam’s own needs, Mrs. Orchard can also meet her own in a healthier and more satisfying way.