Marriage

Graham and Audra’s marriage is at the center of the novel. Thus, one of the narrative’s main themes is the idea that a marriage may suffer both internal and external stressand still prevail. Graham and Audra’s relationship is largely defined by the fundamental differences in their respective personalities and outlooks. Audra is highly extroverted and values creating and maintaining friendships, while Graham is highly introverted, reticent, and anxious. However, their marriage appears to thrive based on these differences rather than suffer. Audra’s extroversion is a necessary compliment and antidote to Graham’s introversion. This idea is further affirmed by the fact that Graham used to be married to someone much more like him—Elspeth—and that marriage failed. The narrative does not directly address the nature of Graham and Elspeth’s failure, but the reader may infer that Graham and Elspeth were...