This tale features two characters: Bill Ostrowsky, the main character and focus of the action, and his mother, Mrs. Ostrowsky. The Silver Pillow is a psychological study, with most of the action taking place in Bill's confused mind. He does not love his mother, yet he takes care of her. When he can, he escapes into the fantasies of pornographic movies. He has enough selfawareness to know that he does not appeal to women; the tale implies that his miserable personality and ugly looks are the product of his upbringing by an insanely hateful woman. He seems to lack the energy to hate deeply, but at the same time lacks the insight to fully understand how hateful his mother is.

Mrs. Ostrowsky is a demonic force in the tale. If a parent through wise judgment and loving actions can raise a strong, well-adjusted child, then a blindly hateful...