The Winter of Our Discontent

Mary’s brother, Dennis, died of a thyroid infection in their house the previous year. His death was long and excruciating. Ethan liked Dennis but had felt a strange desire to kill him on his deathbed. The doctor told Ethan that such things often happen, perhaps because death makes people remember all the memories they have of a person, good and bad. This memory makes Ethan reflect on his capacity for change and how everyone is now pushing him to be a new version of himself.

His thoughts turn to Danny. Danny went to the Naval Academy, was expelled, and did not return to New Baytown until his parents died. Ethan does not know what happened to Danny. Ethan thinks deeply about becoming ruthless for money. He knows it might give him scars, but figures that everyone who lives has some scars. He describes the recent changes as “as a great ship being turned and bunted and shoved about and pulled around by many small tugs” (92). With no one to ask for advice, Ethan decides that he does not actually want input, just corroboration.