Many families have problems within that can sometimes ruin the relationship between themselves, In the short story A Domestic Dilemma by Carson McCullers, a family of four goes through a problem that if not for Martin, the problem probably wouldn't of been resolved. The problem was alcoholism, Martins wife Emily drank to much therefore jeopardizing her children's and her own safety, her relationship with her husband Martin, and according to Martin, their reputation. Most people don't just resort to alcoholism for nothing, Emily must have had a reason to start drinking the way she was.

From the beginning of the story clues are given that Martin didn't want to go home and deal with things: "It used to be that at this point the would relax and begin to think with pleasure of his home. In this last year nearness brought only a senses of tension and he...