I couldn't speak to that, I don't have the life experience for it. But I would be interested to see what others thought.

To me adoption involves the willing acceptance of responsibility for a child you did not create.

Wanda is taking responsibility for a body that is a stranger to her; enough of the childlike innocence and bewilderment that was the makeup of Pet remains for us to see how carefully Wanda must proceed, just as if she were introducing a young child into a new situation and lifestyle. She and this newcomer have to get used to each other and grow together. Wanda's social net has to now accept that she isn't the same person she was before, just like relatives and friends adjust when someone brings home a new child. The new parent is going to be different, have different needs and responsibilities.

There may be difficulties that people who bear their children aren't familiar with. The adopted child may bring with him issues that precede his experience with the adoptive family. And they may have preconceived notions about who he is or should be based on their personal desires (resemblance, tastes, idiosyncracies) that he might never fulfill because he's not their genetic offspring.

This seems like what Wanda may go through, too. Pet's body comes with habits and tendencies that were put in place before Wanda came into it. And Wanda and her family have ideas about what it should be able to do or how it should respond, based on what they know of Wanda.

Despite initial adjustments, I see Wanda with Pet's body as able to have an extremely fulfilling life, with many wonderful experiences which would otherwise have been denied her. They will form a happy unit and grow together until no one will be able to remember what things were like before Pet came along.

So I think The Host on one level of analysis is a parable of pregnancy, childbirth, AND adoption; in short, an illustration of motherhood.

Doesn't Wanda kind of adopt Jamie, and he her as a surrogate mother figure?

I also see a parallel with the mom in the caves. She shelters and protects her kids from the perceived danger of the alien Wanderer, never letting her touch them. Remember how Wanda protectively holds the soul's container until it is safely aboard the transport, safe from human hands.

Motherhood is one of those rare occassions that, no matter who you are, it changes you for the rest of your life. You know longer look at the world through the same eyes.

After my son was born, I didn't realize the power of love at first sight. I knew that I loved him while I carried him, but I didn't realize that I would die for him.

Being a mom has the ability to make you a better person. It reminds you that sometimes you need to put others first. It provides you with a sense of empathy and sympathy for others. It reminds you that time is short and you need to grab at happiness every day. I was so happy that SM explored this in The Host.

Well done!

I completely looked at the relationship between Wanda and Jamie as an adoptive relationship, lauralee. I also looked at Mel's and Wanda's relationship as being adoptive although I can see the biological reference as well. I think any adoptive mother will attest to the fact that, simply because she didn't give birth to her child, the bond is no less strong, complex and complete than that of a biological mother/child.

I think the cave atmosphere lent itself to the "it takes a village to raise a child" concept. Each member of the cave dwellers became a member of a larger family unit with Jeb as the patriarch.

Amen to that QOMC! Just ask me about my love for my son!

I definitely felt that there was a maternal bond between Wanderer and Jamie. I thought that was what pulled her to the caves - the desire to find Jamie and make sure that he was okay.
Beyond that, throughout the story there was the theme that Wanderer was willing to do things for Jamie that went against her own nature. She could only bear that thought of harming someone else to protect those that she loved, especially Jamie. The ability to do things beyond what you imagined yourself capable in order to protect your child. I think that is the very essence of what being a mother.

Wanda's ability to love is incredible!!!

How could she NOT love Jamie.

Try as she may, she couldn't even NOT love Jared, even when he proved to be her probable demise!

Love is the truest inate sense of a Mother.
Whether your born child, adopted, even a niece or nephew...
can be loved as your own. Love has NO BOUNDARIES!!!

It can't be taken from you, and it certainly can't be forced...
But, it can be given. Freely. Without condition...
That is what Wanda really excelled at.

Loving freely. Or, Freely loving.