Carson McCullers requires the reader on a journey into the lives of a family plagued by alcoholism in “A Domestic Dilemma”. The realism of the story is astounding, as most persons will typically obtain themselves torn when facing hard family decisions. The Meadows’ family members is torn by both compassion and suffering, and Martin Meadows is faced with a single of the most complicated decisions of his life. In A Domestic Dilemma, the author conveys the notion that men and women facing tricky choices in marital relationships need to act in the ideal interest of one’s self.
The conflicts in the story surround Martin and Emily’s marital relationship. It is clear that their marriage is deteriorating for the reason that of Emily’s alcoholism. Emily usually attempts to hide her drinking from her husband and when Martin inquires about his wife’s earlier drinking, she responds “Simply because I drink a couple of sherries in the afternoon you are trying to make me out a drunkard.” in a sharp, unforgiving tone. Martin becomes frustrated recognizing that he is not able to trust his own wife with any responsibilities around the property due to the fact of her intoxication, “If you could only comprehend how sick I am – how bad it is for all of us.” He pleads with Emily and tries to calm her frequently, but underneath his calm and passive mask Martin’s fear and worry for his young children causes him to despise Emily’s behavior. “His youth was becoming frittered away by a drunkard’s waste, his extremely manhood subtly undermined.” Two events that worried Martin the most had been when Emily was generating cinnamon toast for the young children, she accidentally used cayenne alternatively of cinnamon. Their son, Andy, took a bite of the toast and cried since it burned his mouth. The other mistake that Emily created was even though bathing her infant, she dropped Marianne and reduce the child’s fragile head on a table. Mainly because of Emily’s ignorance and drinking her child daughter could have died or been seriously injured. Martin Meadows also faces a different conflict. His heart is wrenched in turmoil as he struggles with the choices that could force him to choose amongst his appreciate for his children and his really like for his wife. The devotion that Martin feels towards his youngsters is evident all through “A domestic Dilemma”. He views his children’s faces as “radiant as flower petals, equally loved.” Also illustrating his like for his children, Martin “kissed the tiny hand that lay…