Why+is+he+this?

Jacob is quite an interesting character. He is obviously socially awkward and shy. Furthermore, he is a man of questionable morality. He has premarital sex with Florinda, more sex with prostitutes, and now is in love with a married woman. It sort of seems to me that he does not have a significant amount of self-confidence.

My question to you is this: Why is Jacob who he is? Why is he so shy, withdrawn, and immoral? There has to be a reason.

I think that it stems from the way he was raised. His mother made sure that he was always under her eyes at every time. She, in effect, controlled Jacob. Psychologically speaking (and this is a psychological book, how appropriate), such actions have negative effects on other people. Studies show that controlling parents have caused lack of self-esteem in offspring, and have also caused some rebelliousness as well. Thus Jacob's immorality. He is rebelling against the rules.1201317903