In John Updike's "Separating" the story really goes into great emotional detail about what Richard is going through, and the pain of delivering hard news to his children. In the story Richard and his wife Joan have decided to separate for the summer, and are in the process of breaking the news to their children. At the start of the story the author goes into detail about the newly built tennis court that Richard and Joan had had constructed the year before, and the currently underway kitchen renovations. The author claims that these renovations are a form of ignoring the deeper issues in the marriage, and was a typical event right before many divorces. The couple had decided to wait until all four kids were back at home and out of school for
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In reality, happiness comes from within and is a result made of the choices that one makes personally. The story talks about how Richard and Joan can no longer make each other happy and that he is the cause for the separation, but the story claims the separation is only a means for divorce. Joan and Richards daughter Judith states in the story "I think it’s silly. You should either live together or get divorced." Unfortunately I have to agree with the author on one fact, and that is that most separations do eventually end in divorce; however, I do not think that this result is a rule of thumb. At times in life we can become so focused on leaning on one another that we forget to pay attention to ourselves. In order for a person to carry on healthy relationships, they must first have a healthy relationship within themselves. For someone to find themselves again, sometimes that means distancing themselves from others and from other relationships. This type of separation can eventually bring people closer together in the end. I personally have seen parents split up for a time only to be brought back together in a renewed and loving relationship. I don't think that all separations must end in divorce, sometimes time and separation is what we need to find happiness
In reality, happiness comes from within and is a result made of the choices that one makes personally. The story talks about how Richard and Joan can no longer make each other happy and that he is the cause for the separation, but the story claims the separation is only a means for divorce. Joan and Richards daughter Judith states in the story "I think it’s silly. You should either live together or get divorced." Unfortunately I have to agree with the author on one fact, and that is that most separations do eventually end in divorce; however, I do not think that this result is a rule of thumb. At times in life we can become so focused on leaning on one another that we forget to pay attention to ourselves. In order for a person to carry on healthy relationships, they must first have a healthy relationship within themselves. For someone to find themselves again, sometimes that means distancing themselves from others and from other relationships. This type of separation can eventually bring people closer together in the end. I personally have seen parents split up for a time only to be brought back together in a renewed and loving relationship. I don't think that all separations must end in divorce, sometimes time and separation is what we need to find happiness