Gladys:Saint/Vernon:Sinner

[Teddy]

On another thread I found myself wondering if people feel that, generally speaking, Gladys is responsible for the 'good' or favorable elements in Elvis's personality and Vernon for the 'bad' or questionable.

I'd also like to resist laboring over the tired old issue of substance abuse in this particular consideration, since so much has already been made of it. In actual fact both Gladys and Vernon were given to overindulging anyway, so it would only muddy the study. I'm more interested in the broader facets of theirs and Elvis's character.

What do you think?

[kathy parkinson]

I don't class them as either saint or sinner, they were Elvis's parents, and Elvis loved them.

[Diane]

I think like every other parent, both Gladys and Vernon contributed to some good and some bad things in Elvis' personality. We know so much more about Gladys though so it's really hard to say what Vernon contributed.

Diane

[Tommy]

I don't know that much about Vernon, I know Gladys and Elvis were very close, you could tell Elvis loved his parents very much, they were always with him. Vernon was always with him, after his Mother passed away. I can't really tell you what made Elvis the person he was, because I personally didn't know the Presleys. How would you really know the answer to this question.

[Albert]

I've always had a deep respect for Vernon for always being on Elvis' side. That is a fact, simple as that. All the bad things about him are just speculations.

The claim that Gladys would be the good side of Elvis, and Vernon the bad side is just amazingly laughable. People saying that should read some books about Elvis' early life like those of Peter Guralnick. Life isn't that simple to put things like that so black/white.

[Teddy]

I can't really tell you what made Elvis the person he was, because I personally didn't know the Presleys. How would you really know the answer to this question.

Just to be clear, I'm assuming that none of us have known the Presleys and the thread is as speculative as any other which we could reference on the site.

[monk37]

I don't know if the extreme closeness between Elvis and Gladys was at all healthy or good for him ultimately.

I don't think that parents who undermine their offspring's ability to separate and participate in mature relationships are doing their offspring any favours.

I think 30 and 40 year olds still living with their parents now are a serious problem

[Tommy]

I don't know if the extreme closeness between Elvis and Gladys was at all healthy or good for him ultimately.

I don't think that parents who undermine their offspring's ability to separate and participate in mature relationships are doing their offspring any favours.

I think 30 and 40 year olds still living with their parents now are a serious problem

Elvis was only 21 years old when he brought Graceland, and it was Elvis who wanted his parents living at Graceland and I see nothing usual about it, it was large enough for all of them. This was an adult (Elvis) who was making his own living, and brought his parents there to live with him.

[franny]

What I find interesting is that Gladys passed on so many more years before Vernon and yet we hear and know so much more about Gladys.

I don't think Gladys was all good, just as I don't think Vernon was all bad..

franny

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

There is definitely an assumption that the roles of Elvis' parents fall into those two category's, Glady's had just as much positive and negative input into Elvis' life as Vernon. I believe that Glady' struggled with her own demons but had she lived longer she may have had more influence on Elvis due to their close relationship.

It is well documented that Elvis and Glady's were very close, what isn't known fully is how close were Elvis and Vernon during this period? It has always struck me that Vernon is seen as a bad guy because he tried to reign in Elvis' excesses, does this really count as Vernon being the bad guy? Vernon had been in jail due to forging a cheque, a man would have to be desperate to have committed such an act, so he was obviously very scared of how Elvis' often outrageous spending habits would lead them to.

On the other hand Glady's seemed to dote on her only son, perhaps the loss of Jessie played on her mind or the fame that took her son away from her. Perhaps losing a mother when you are so young has galvanised a Madonna figure in the eyes of Elvis.

I suppose there are a myriad of ways to look at the roles of all involved, not sure we will ever fully understand the intricacies. One thing for sure is, a mothers love is a bond that is seldom viewed inferior to a father... Strange world isn't it

[May]

I think 30 and 40 year olds still living with their parents now are a serious problem

I agree that it's a little unusual when 30 or 40 year olds are still "living at home" with their parents. I wouldn't call it a serious problem though. Plus Elvis wasn't in that category, his parents lived with him. It was Elvis's house. Just like a friend of mine who is in her fifties - her mother and father live with her and her husband. Lots of parents end up living with their off-spring for one reason or another.

[Donut]

I've read stories about Vernon that make me think he was a good person and that he had a good heart. Opening the gates of Graceland, for instance, and allowing fans to see Elvis body in such a terrible moment for him, was a really generous gesture on Vernon's part. Maybe he was tight with with money but you have to think that untill Elvis became famous he didn't have an easy life. He also had a sense of humor so I think Elvis took part of his personality from him.

[Diane]

Elvis was only 21 years old when he brought Graceland, and it was Elvis who wanted his parents living at Graceland and I see nothing usual about it, it was large enough for all of them. This was an adult (Elvis) who was making his own living, and brought his parents there to live with him.

These days there are dozens of healthy reasons why adult children live with their parents...the biggest of all being the economy, the children taking care of the parents etc........

Diane

[Diane]

I've read stories about Vernon that make me think he was a good person and that he had a good heart. Opening the gates of Graceland, for instance, and allowing fans to see Elvis body in such a terrible moment for him, was a really generous gesture on Vernon's part. Maybe he was tight with with money but you have to think that untill Elvis became famous he didn't have an easy life. He also had a sense of humor so I think Elvis took part of his personality from him.

Totally agree with this post!

Diane

[mistymorning]

What I find interesting is that Gladys passed on so many more years before Vernon and yet we hear and know so much more about Gladys.

I don't think Gladys was all good, just as I don't think Vernon was all bad..

franny

I agree with you Franny !!!!!

[May]

I don't think anyone is all good or all bad.

[monk37]

Well, it rather depends on what roles they are playing.

If the adult child is living as if they are still a kid - parents doing most of the house work, cooking, laundry - and parenting any grandchildren

while the adult child is basically being the child - serving their own needs rather than sharing household responsibility - that's a problem.

If the adult child is caretaking the parents or if they are all being adults - it's a far more healthy and less worrisome situation.


the phrase Failure to Launch applies to adult children who stay in an arrest usually teenage state of not having any mature adult relationships and continue to pursue teenager type activities - while the parents do all the maintaining.


Elvis had become the parent to Gladys at a very early age - and by the time he was a teenager, he was parent to both Gladys and Vernon.

Oddly, this forced growing up quickly seemed to have ended when he got wealthy and famous.

I think that most kids who have to deal with situations that make them take on parental roles - either for their parents or younger siblings, tend to continue to take on responsibility throughout their lives.

Elvis took on responsibility early when he was around Gladys - but reverted to a teen when he had freedom from her.

The army was probably the first and last time he had a chance to try out being an adult with reasonable responsibilities that he had to fulfill.

[KPM]

I think its hard to judge Vernon and Gladys by who is saint and who is sinner. IMO very few people are truely either one-we all have the good and the bad.

[debtdbruno]

Well, it rather depends on what roles they are playing.

If the adult child is living as if they are still a kid - parents doing most of the house work, cooking, laundry - and parenting any grandchildren

while the adult child is basically being the child - serving their own needs rather than sharing household responsibility - that's a problem.

If the adult child is caretaking the parents or if they are all being adults - it's a far more healthy and less worrisome situation.


the phrase Failure to Launch applies to adult children who stay in an arrest usually teenage state of not having any mature adult relationships and continue to pursue teenager type activities - while the parents do all the maintaining.


Elvis had become the parent to Gladys at a very early age - and by the time he was a teenager, he was parent to both Gladys and Vernon.

Oddly, this forced growing up quickly seemed to have ended when he got wealthy and famous.

I think that most kids who have to deal with situations that make them take on parental roles - either for their parents or younger siblings, tend to continue to take on responsibility throughout their lives.

Elvis took on responsibility early when he was around Gladys - but reverted to a teen when he had freedom from her.

The army was probably the first and last time he had a chance to try out being an adult with reasonable responsibilities that he had to fulfill.

yes, very strange relationship.......the complexaties of the three way relationship take some fathoming