A helpless kind of terror...

[krwhiting]

"And was she not holding her husband right? Why else would he take his joy out of the house? A helpless kind of terror had risen up in her and it never occurred to her that he had gone out for reasons that had nothing to do with her."

I find this fascinating. In other threads about Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne I've seen people address King's ability (or inability) to capture a woman's inner person. So here's my question, is this a reasonable capture of what it feels like for a husband or boyfriend to leave a woman alone and go drinking with his friends?

I ask for two reasons: 1. to know if King got it right; and 2. because many years ago I was a drinking machine (quit in January 1995). And my wife hated it when I went to the Officer's Club and rolled in at 1:30 or so. She hung in there, and it worked out, but it had never occurred to me that she might be taking my boozing as a silent commentary on her importance as my wife or on my view of her. I guess I should have thought of that then, but I didn't. Since I quit, I haven't thought much about it at all. I quit, problem solved. But this bit of writing got me to thinking about it.

Kelly

 

[GNTLGNT]

...I would think it's a fair "view" of how the spouse of a heavy drinker feels...at least in part, and given King's background-I'm certain he had his own experience to draw on and write an even handed summation thereof.....

 

[Neesy]

"And was she not holding her husband right? Why else would he take his joy out of the house? A helpless kind of terror had risen up in her and it never occurred to her that he had gone out for reasons that had nothing to do with her."

I find this fascinating. In other threads about Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne I've seen people address King's ability (or inability) to capture a woman's inner person. So here's my question, is this a reasonable capture of what it feels like for a husband or boyfriend to leave a woman alone and go drinking with his friends?

I ask for two reasons: 1. to know if King got it right; and 2. because many years ago I was a drinking machine (quit in January 1995). And my wife hated it when I went to the Officer's Club and rolled in at 1:30 or so. She hung in there, and it worked out, but it had never occurred to me that she might be taking my boozing as a silent commentary on her importance as my wife or on my view of her. I guess I should have thought of that then, but I didn't. Since I quit, I haven't thought much about it at all. I quit, problem solved. But this bit of writing got me to thinking about it.

Kelly

Congrats on quitting. Without getting too personal, I came from a home where drinking was more or less taboo - one drink at Christmas or other special occasions was okay.

Andy my husband comes from a culture where everyone goes to the pub. They even had a bar in their house (which I guess is not a big thing but my parents were too strict for anything like that).

So yeah, when he used to go to the Legion and drink a lot it was hard for me to accept.

However, I realized that this is just part of who he is. I cannot change him, nor do I wish to. I just have to love him as he is.

No - I do not see it as (as you put it) a silent commentary on my importance as a wife, but then again we have only been married for 10 years and both of us have some life experience under our belts.

Mr. King had to overcome some addictions so I would say he probably got a lot of it right. He must have got something right! (they have been married for over 40 years now)