marriage of Paul's parents, at least on the mother's side. Paul's father remains in the background of this story. All that readers know about him is that he works in town and his good prospects never materialize. Paul's mother tells her son that his father is unlucky, which to her is obviously a character flaw. The mother dismisses the contributions and value of the father, and forces Paul to surpass them and his father as well. One of the biggest crimes that parents can commit is to defame the other parent in front of a child, as Paul's mother does.
             Even though the family feels superior to their neighbors, money always seems to come up short. The enormous house, servants, and luxuries are not nearly enough to satisfy the boy's parents' expensive taste. Money is very unaccessable, but Paul's mother is determined not to let anything get in the way of having w
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