MovieChat Forums > Bates Motel (2013) Discussion > For those saying Norma died not knowing ...

For those saying Norma died not knowing the truth about Norman......

posted 8 years ago by Manna-Fest
8 replies | jump to latest

I myself felt the same way originally, but thinking back on the show and all the things she and Norman went through together, she knew the truth. She knew he was violent and mentally unstable and was the reason he even went to Pineview. She was at a conflict of interest of how to go about handling his well being. She was hoping he could be cured, but she wanted him all to herself. This is clear in the last scene she and Romero shared when she snapped about him trying to put Norman back in Pineview. I frankly hated that scene and it just showed complete stupidity on Norma's part, but I can see she's obsessed with Norman being at home with her. She doesn't want him to have to go away. Her keeping him home I think was more of being his protector and supporter to guide him to the right path, and not so much feeling he was alright and not going to do anymore trouble. As she described it at one point, her and Norman were "one in the same".

It's like Norman being at a conflict of interest with Norma. We've seen him complain about how much time she had them spent together and how she needed to give him some space. YET, when a new man enters into her life, he gets all paranoid and jealous and wants Norma all to himself. These are two people who do not know how to go about handling their feelings and carry out their obsessions regardless of the consequences because they're just that mentally influenced by it. What do you guys think?

[–] VirtualSide 8 years ago

I say Norma was the only one who knew the REAL truth about Norman. She was in denial about it during the first 3 Seasons and tried to hide it from everyone because she didn't want Norman to be taken to an institution where he wouldn't be living with her.

[–] Manna-Fest 8 years ago

Yep, just like what I said. She knew and in denial due to her obsession with Norman and making sure he was close to her and her only.

[–] pfarnell 8 years ago

even if she knew,and we know that from appearances it is as apparent to her that it is to the viewer that he is bent, but, guy could be the Zodiac killer, she is going to protect him anyway..

[–] hardnessoftheworld 8 years ago

Of course Norma knew all about how seriously mentally ill Norman was. The only problem is that Norma was all most just as bad as Norman. She just displayed her mental illness in different ways.Norma was just better (sometimes ) at hiding hers.

Both of them should have been room mates in mental care home.

Without Mercy
Man is like a beast
Even if you are hard on yourself
Be merciful to others.

[–] Springfest71 8 years ago

She just displayed her mental illness in different ways.Norma was just better (sometimes ) at hiding hers.

This is so true.

[–] mylifeisthecinema 8 years ago

Norma, coming from an incestuous relationship (or whatever) with Caleb, I think she always had a perversion to keeping Norman abnormally close.

Not quite sexual, but right on the line, and maybe she didn't even realize that is what she was doing to him. His responses to her dating were only conditioned subconsciously by mother keeping them unnaturally close.

[–] VanillaCola 8 years ago

She was in denial but in deep in her heart she knew how dangerous and insane Norman was. But she had difficulties to accept that, especially if someone other (like Dylan or Alex) told her how unstable Norman was. It only made her more distant towards that person suggesting there's something wrong in her son.

[–] Springfest71 8 years ago

She was in denial but in deep in her heart she knew how dangerous and insane Norman was. But she had difficulties to accept that

Her difficulties in accepting it was more about not wanting Norman taken away from her. She couldn't bear the thought of being away from him on a permanent basis, and as a result rejected anything or anyone who alluded to that possibility - including potential girlfriends/lovers of Norman, or people/events suggesting that he needed to be institutionalized either in a mental hospital or as a criminal/murderer.

Bradley and Cody fell into the former category; Dylan and Romero fell into the latter category. She was okay with Emma, because deep down she knew that Norman and Emma would never be together as a couple - either due to Emma's illness or because Norman was not really attracted to her.

Some fans think that it was just Norman wanting Norma all to himself - but it went both ways.