The Northern Woods: The Doctor and the Doctor's Wife Summary

The doctor, Nick's father, nearly instigates a fight with a man he wants to cut wood that was dropped by a logging company, but backs down. He returns home to his wife, a good-natured Christian scientist and lies, saying that the other man tried to start the fight. He fiddles with his shotgun, but ultimately decides to go on a walk with his son

The Northern Woods: The Doctor and the Doctor's Wife Analysis

While thus far, Henry has been in control and level-headed, this chapter shows him losing his temper. His cleaning his shotgun indicates that he is still angry about the near-fight, but he is soothed by wife, which perhaps is a confirmation of the stereotype that the role of a wife is to help...