The Coming of Bill · Theme
Marriage and Companionship
How The Coming of Bill develops Marriage and Companionship.
The book examines marriage as a partnership that requires mutual effort, communication, and shared values, contrasting the happy early days of Kirk and Ruth's marriage with the strain caused by wealth and social distractions.
Where it surfaces
- Ruth States Her Intentions
Ruth's refusal of marriage proposals and her criteria for a suitable partner highlight her unconventional views on marriage.
- VII: Sufficient Unto Themselves
The chapter explores the intense, exclusive bond between Kirk and Ruth, which isolates them from others and creates conflict over autonomy.
- XI: Stung to Action
Ruth's supportive response to Kirk's crisis demonstrates the strength of their partnership in adversity.
- I: Empty-Handed
Kirk and Ruth's reunion highlights both their emotional bond and the gaps in understanding between them.
- IV: The Widening Gap
The widening gap between Kirk and Ruth illustrates the breakdown of marital companionship under the pressures of wealth and social ambition.
- VI: The Outcasts
The growing emotional distance between Kirk and Ruth, as their lives diverge due to Kirk's art and Ruth's social engagements, underscores the theme of marriage and companionship.
- VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot
The chapter explores the growing rift between Kirk and Ruth, highlighting the failure of communication and shared activities to sustain their marriage.
- Dolls with Souls
Ruth's reflections on her marriage to Kirk and her hope to rebuild it after the financial crash underscore the theme of marriage as a partnership that can be renewed.