wards Charles is that of indifference. Although in some of the ways she acts it shows that she cares for his still. She reaches out for him when they are in bed “he feels then her fingers, her hand reaching for him.”(165) She gets angry when he is late returning from what should be just a short errand. Anger is sometimes based from fear. Harriet is seems to be well aware of what her marriage is like and what it’s lacking. This story is written from Charles and Sian’s perspective, so no real sense of what Harriet thought of herself is ever given. Their economic status is of upper-middle class. They live in Rhode Island near the water in a house that is “too grandiose and impractical.” (20) They are adding an addition to the house “that was to have been a new kitchen for Harriet then later become an office.”(20) Harriet seems to be more dependent, she doesn’t work and relies on Charles, whereas Sian is more independent, she takes care of herself, and Lilly and she works as a professor and author.Since the main focus is about Sian the author is showing all dynamics of a woman. She is an individual who can support herself without the help of a man. She doesn’t just stay home; she has two jobs and is a very strong character type. She is still dealing with the loss of a son, a husband who isn’t happy with himself or his life and a farm that is falling apart. I don’t think the view on Sian in this book is anything but positive. What Sian and Charles are doing is not acceptable however. Cheating on your spouse under any circumstance, even a loveless, lifeless, relationship is not acceptable. Everyone deserves happiness and Charles and Sian feel that they don’t have that kind of happiness except when they are together. There are other measures both could have taken so as not to hurt their families in such the magnitude that is evident in the end. Sian has stepped out o...
