Comments on: Supporting Cast

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:51:26 +0000

I believe if you knew the author the answers would be readily apparent, because they are bits and pieces of experiences in her own life. It is a story of love and sacrifice and yes, partnership. And this man, after he graduated, became a scientist who headed the team that developed the underwater sonar crystal that was used in WWII. After the war he left his lucrative job to take his wife, who suffered with asthma, back to a better climate. Their lives were a great example to me. I am their granddaughter.

By: jks

jks — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:02:55 +0000

I agree with both of Carol’s comments.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:59:21 +0000

I think the petty stuff is forgotten, but the lasting stuff is given proper priority. The date that you celebrate an anniversary is petty. Tears in a moment of weakness that you have already gotten over is petty. Sacrifices that strengthen your marriage are lasting. They both passed that test. They’ll probably laugh about the anniversary and celebrate the traditional way later, but remember this day as an important milestone.

By: Maile

Maile — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 05:34:32 +0000

It’s interesting to see what things have changed and what things haven’t in grad student spouse life, between 1931 and now. I wonder what point the author was trying to make…whether she was idealizing the self-sacrificing of the main character, or whether she was making a wry statement about the husband’s lack of consideration for his wife’s feelings. On the one hand, the husband forgets their anniversary. On the other hand, he also offers to give up his dream to make their lives more comfortable and acknowledges her role in his achievements. Is her rejection of his offer a silly, unneeded sacrifice by the wife? Or a manifestation of love? Does she lie about the tears because she is ashamed of them? Or because he just offered to drop the degree and that made her feel he cared? Is this a story about oppresive gender roles, or about love and partnership? Interesting. I wonder what she would have answered about the anniversary, and what he would have done when he realized he had forgotten…

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 04:26:56 +0000

I think it’s a nice love story. Not unrealistic.

By: The Other Clark

The Other Clark — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:29:07 +0000

Ugh! Dreams don’t have to come true to be worthwhile.

Where is the honor in the notion that women must spend their lives sacrificing for ungrateful men?