Bulldog Analysis

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             Lucille prompts the loss of innocence; Miller subtly justifies Lucille's actions by her loneliness. The severity of her actions toward the young boy makes a difference in the way he reacts to the loss of innocence; it opens a gateway to a new perception of sexuality. For example, when the young boy sees his mother "bent over that way, he thought of the woman's heat and was ashamed and shook his head" (Miller, 74). After his loss of innocence the boy's mother had become a sexual creature to him. The mother initially pays very little attention to he boy and it is evident by the boy's independent nature. For example, when the boy sees the ad about the dog he asks his mother if he can purchase the dog and she is too busy playing Bridge that she ignores the boy's question. Miller not giving the mother a name in the short story shows the insignificance the mother has in the boy's life, but this changes towards the end of the story. As the boy loses his innocence with it he gains maturity and with that he somewhat gains respect from his mother who begins to pay more attention to him. For instance, when the dog peed the mother cleaned up the mess and she would attempt to take the dog on walks. These little things may not seem important, but throughout the story the mother has neglected the boy and is now paying attention to him. .
             When the boy takes the glass of water from Lucille, "she let her gown fall open, showing her breasts like half-filled balloons" (Miller 74). Miller relays this to the audience through childish imagery to show that the boy didn't lose everything, he may have lost his innocence but he still has childlike characteristics. Later, the young boy ends up on the carpet with the woman and, "he felt like a waterfall was smashing down on top of his head" (Miller 74). The boy compares his state of ecstasy with the woman to a waterfall. The boy was home thinking of the woman and "Just sitting and thinking of [Lucille] he was hardening up like a broom handle," although Miller gets graphic with his words he still uses the childish simile to show the boy is still 13 (Miller 76).