Aunt Martha

[desilu #1]

I just recently watched the episode "Beaver's short pants" where June goes to help Peggy for a few days and Aunt Martha comes to help the family in her absence. In this episode she subtley insults Ward when she says things like "The house is very nice Ward you must be doing very well....Now" and then mentions how the boys look like a "Bronsan". A person can tell it bugs him but he just tolerates it. Was there ever a time Ward put his foot down with her and if not any guesses as to why he didn't? Again we are talking about a time when a man would not tolerate being disrespected in any way in his home.

[junecleaver]

i don't recall an epi where Ward actually lays down the law, but you could really tell when Ward just couldn't keep it in any longer. he did his best to contain himself! i really think the reason why he didn't go off on her was because he knew how sensitive June was and she'd probably get really really upset with him. So basically, ward was a good caring husband! but i do think he's crazy for taking that crap in his own home

[BlueEyes1767]

I noticed that Ward made a little face when June told him that her sister Peggy had a girl instead of a boy.......

[tdr]

Ward certainly has a nature about him to be conflict-avoiding, and sometimes it is taken advantage of; perhaps most notably by Fred Rutherford, who so often boasts about his kids or his trips or experiences to is captive audience, Ward. But thre are a few hints (IMO) that Ward had to learn to be more patient and conflict-avoiding in his adult years. When Aunt Martha says "You must be doing very well-- now" her tone and choice of words appear to be what remains of less cordial times between them; probably lessened as the boys came along.

And Ward is just about to set Aunt Martha straight about Beaver's new suit with short pants and knickers when his call is put through to June, who virtually begs him to not hurt Aunt Martha's feelings. So he devises a scheme that will keep Beaver from further embarrassment and spares Aunt Matha at the same time. For the time this works alright, but in the long run it would indicate too much continued cajoling of Aunt Martha's sensitivity and interference (as is seen in a later ep, "Visitng Aunts").

Ward may sometimes go beyond reasonable limits in order to 'keep peace,' but he is a long way from being anyone's doormat.

[hawaii five-o]

Ward should have made Aunt Martha wear short pants.

[bandito]

Originally posted by hawaii five-o
Ward should have made Aunt Martha wear short pants.

[Kitt]

I don't know how Ward put up with some of Aunt Marhta's eccentricities. Maybe the fact that "it was in the script" was a big help to him.

I'm not sure how realistic it was for a society lady, as Aunt Martha supposedly was, to not know that short pants were no longer the thing to wear for a kid Beaver's age at that time.

[MikeZ]

I don't think she had a clue as to what the style was, or just didn't care.

[desilu #1]

I think Aunt Martha was just one of those snobs that needed a truck to pull that needle out of her butt. I know I would never tolerate her for anyone.

[MikeZ]

I agree, but sometimes when it is "family", you just have to ignore it.