Kate Cutrer has some mental problems of her own, and, being Jack Bolling's cousin, he learns about them and observes them. As he goes throughout his days, Jack Bolling tries to avoid the typical roles of people; the "everydayness". When he thinks about falling into a pattern, it makes him physically sick. He is afraid to be normal, to be just another person in the world. It seems as if he wants to "insert himself into the world", but he is afraid to because he also wants to play the roles that people want him to play, such as his aunt. His aunt thinks that she knows him pretty well, but discovers in the end that she didn't know him at all because he was always trying to be what she wanted him to be. Kate Cutrer, on the other hand, wants to be someone who just blends in with all around her and doesn't have to worry about making herself known or standing out. But with her problems, she can't seem to do that. One reason for Jack Bolling and Kate Cutrer getting married could be that the other is what they secretly desire to be themselves.
When Kate Cutrer and Jack Bolling decide to get married, they are on the train on their way to Chicago. Kate Cutrer makes a big deal about Jack Bolling having to tell her all that she has to do for the rest of their lives if they do get married. This is due to her mental state, not being entirely stable, and not wanting to stand out at all. With Jack Bolling to tell her all that she needs to do, Kate Cutrer can pass herself off as being just another person in the crowd. If she does exactly as Jack Bolling