Hi my name is Eric/EJ, according to the short story, Ella doesn't look like she supports Dave and I'm wondering does she do anything for a living? Does she have a job to help support Dave and the children?
i think it is said in the story that she works in a hospital as a director of facilities...and another clue is when "he" was saying how come ella/women doesn't have to choose between husband, work and family... -Yves
Like Yves stated Ella is a Director of Facilities at a hospital (refer to David's thoughts at 3:32am). If you look at David's first thoughts at 3:29am you will see that Ella is not the only financial contributor, there is no especification that she would be the only one to have that role in the family. Besides taking care of his wife's and children's needs he also held a full time job until he switched to having a part time job that would allow him to fulfill those obligations that were also placed on him. What I found really interesting was although he was "demasculated" by his wife in various ways the only masculine trait he maintained was being the bed winner in a sence, he never quit his part time job (as far as we know). Although he whined about the situation he was in he never went to the point where he quite. Was it because that he knew that that was the only masculine trait he had and feared to loose it and be called a pansie?
Actually I don't think that he switched to part-time. He wanted to but he was kind of nervous on how he'll be approaching Ella about it. About your question I don't think it's about having a masculine trait anymore maybe he thinks quitting may mean a divorce.
Yes, Ella is a working mom. She works as Director of Facilities in a hospital. It sounds like she "brings in the bacon" and would like David to take a more active role in supporting the family financially. David would like to go part-time (he is a school teacher but is afraid to tell Ella. He thinks that Ella will "start talking about certain men at the hospital, working fathers who manged to do it all effortlessly and without stress."
I re-read the story and found no actual evidence that he did get the he and David Sweetland got past the Head of their job. Therefore he was not able to get part-time. Also what gives away that he did not get the part-time placement was that at 3:14am he thinks of making pasta for the lunch he was preparing on the weekend, and Colin had not stopped mutilating himself(3:50am). His earlier thoughts at he 3:32am he states that a "part-time would mean he'd be able to cook something other than pasta and help Colin more with his homework and generally keep an eye on him." He was unable to complete theses things which would mean that he stayed with his full-time position. What I believe made him stay with his full-time position was that Ella "started talking about certain men at the hospital where..working fathers who managed to do it all effortlessly and without fus." That would have made him rethink his state of manhood and would had made him keep his job (full-time).
i think it is said in the story that she works in a hospital as a director of facilities...and another clue is when "he" was saying how come ella/women doesn't have to choose between husband, work and family... -Yves
ReplyDeleteLike Yves stated Ella is a Director of Facilities at a hospital (refer to David's thoughts at 3:32am). If you look at David's first thoughts at 3:29am you will see that Ella is not the only financial contributor, there is no especification that she would be the only one to have that role in the family. Besides taking care of his wife's and children's needs he also held a full time job until he switched to having a part time job that would allow him to fulfill those obligations that were also placed on him. What I found really interesting was although he was "demasculated" by his wife in various ways the only masculine trait he maintained was being the bed winner in a sence, he never quit his part time job (as far as we know). Although he whined about the situation he was in he never went to the point where he quite. Was it because that he knew that that was the only masculine trait he had and feared to loose it and be called a pansie?
ReplyDeletedid he switched to a part-time?
ReplyDeleteOh right that's true sorry.
ReplyDeleteActually I don't think that he switched to part-time. He wanted to but he was kind of nervous on how he'll be approaching Ella about it. About your question I don't think it's about having a masculine trait anymore maybe he thinks quitting may mean a divorce.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ella is a working mom. She works as Director of Facilities in a hospital. It sounds like she "brings in the bacon" and would like David to take a more active role in supporting the family financially. David would like to go part-time (he is a school teacher but is afraid to tell Ella. He thinks that Ella will "start talking about certain men at the hospital, working fathers who manged to do it all effortlessly and without stress."
ReplyDeleteI re-read the story and found no actual evidence that he did get the he and David Sweetland got past the Head of their job. Therefore he was not able to get part-time. Also what gives away that he did not get the part-time placement was that at 3:14am he thinks of making pasta for the lunch he was preparing on the weekend, and Colin had not stopped mutilating himself(3:50am). His earlier thoughts at he 3:32am he states that a "part-time would mean he'd be able to cook something other than pasta and help Colin more with his homework and generally keep an eye on him." He was unable to complete theses things which would mean that he stayed with his full-time position. What I believe made him stay with his full-time position was that Ella "started talking about certain men at the hospital where..working fathers who managed to do it all effortlessly and without fus." That would have made him rethink his state of manhood and would had made him keep his job (full-time).
ReplyDeleteI think he is scared of his wife's response if he tell her his thoughts. It seems like Ella "wears the pants" in the relationship
ReplyDelete