Marriage Is Not Always Smooth Sailing Analysis

Marriage Is Not Always Smooth Sailing
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person” (McLaughlin). Michael obviously is not happy with their marriage and that is why he keeps looking at other women and why he wants to be with them. But Frances, on the other hand, is the opposite. She is happy with their marriage, except for the fact that Michael looks at other women, and she loves him. But it seems that Michael does not feel the same way about her as she does with him. Michael seems to want to end their relationship, but Frances, on the other hand, believes that there is still something there to salvage it. Michael, deep down, wants to be with other women. He says, “I can’t help but look at them. I can’t help but want them” (Shaw 1041). If he wants other women, he is obviously not happy in their marriage. He feels that he is happy, but Frances does not. First of all, Michael says “Sure” when Frances asks him if he is a happily married man. “Sure” is not something one should say when they are
Michael is looking at every woman that passes, while Frances is watching it happen. She tries not to notice it, but can not help it; it eats at her. She says, “I feel rotten inside, in my stomach, when we pass a woman and you look at her and I see that look in your eye and that’s the way you looked at me the first time” (Shaw 1039). As Frances is watching this, many emotions and feelings must be going through her head. She might be asking herself, “Am I not good enough for Michael? I must not be if he keeps looking at every single woman that goes by.” Imagine what this must be doing to her self-esteem. She tries not to notice it, but she can not. She says, “I try to make believe it doesn’t mean anything. Some men’re like that, I tell myself, they have to see what they’re missing” (Shaw 1039). Again, if a man keeps looking at every woman, he probably is not happy with their