A family is a very complex part of life. The stress and the emotions between
husband and wife as well as parents and kids, can drive people to do most
anything. In two of the stories we have read, family life is the most
important aspect. "The Year of Getting to Know Us" is simply the story of a
family dealing with issues. As well as in "The Jewelry," however the issues
are after the wife's death. Between both of these stories family life can be
very different. As the secrets unfold, families unwind and even the strongest
Women can be a very complex gender. Some women do things for one reason;
others do the exact same thing for different reasons. Men seem to handle women
differently as well. In "The Year of Getting to Know Us," Lenny's girlfriend
cheats on him and he doesn't show emotion or seem to care. However, in "The
Jewelry," Lantin is quite upset when he comes to find out that his wife has had
If brought up in different circumstances people react much differently. Lenny
grew up around cheating and love affairs. He witnessed his father at one point
when he stowed away in his car. His family barely talked. At dinner there was
very little conversation. This all led to his lack of emotion. His wife only
cheated on him to try and hurt him so he would show emotion. Lenny still
continued not to show emotion. Even what she thought would be the most painful
thing to go through, did nothing to him.
Lantin, on the other hand, was devastated when he found out. Even worse he
found out after her death. She would go to the play and drag him along until
he could take it no longer. Then she began going alone. All of a sudden she
had an obsession for false jewelry. False jewelry found to be genuine. Lantin
was just in shock when a necklace thought to be 20 franks turned out to be
...