Relationships

The effect of relationships on lives is a major theme in many of these short stories. Among the relationships explored are those between husband and wife as well as those between parents and children. Infidelity, friendship, incest, and sickness are among the aspects that affect the relationships presented in various short stories.

One of the most common relationship issues discussed is that of infidelity. Unfaithfulness of the husband or wife figures into the stories “Settlers,” “ToyFolk,” and “Fidelity.” In the stories “The Noncombatant,” “The Ministry of Restraint,” and “The Unravished Bride” the characters consider being unfaithful to their spouses but do not follow through with their desires.

In the stories “ToyFolk” and “How to Fall” relationships between spouses with children are discussed. In both of these stories, the mother refused to have more children because of a problem with her first child. In the story “ToyFolk...