Contradictory Parenting

On the surface, Grace and Max appear to be diametrical opposites, but Richard Russo's' characters are seldom that one-dimensional. Grace seems to have all of the attributes of a perfect parent, devoted to the point of sacrificing her own happiness for the sake, not only of her own child, but for Cindy Whiting as well. Grace is driven by high moral standards as defined by Roman Catholicism-in spite of her affair with C.B. Whiting. Max, on the other hand, seems to think only of himself, frequently abandoning his family to go paint houses in the Florida Keys under the impression that he is contributing to the family because, in his absence, there is one less mouth to feed. In the final analysis, Grace's selfless sacrifices trap Miles into the deteriorating Empire Falls and a life of toil and servitude, quashing her own passionate obsession that her...