Through the exposition of The Kugelmass Episode the reader is introduced to the main character Professor Kugelmass. His life is the epitome of all that is dull and uneventful. He is an extremely unhappy person with not much going for him including children that do not interest him and a wife he does not love and fiscal difficulties.

Kugelmass first brings up his desire to have an affair with his therapist who does not approve of the idea and so Kugelmass stops seeing him. This act symbolizes both Kugelmass's need for instant gratification, which is also the theme of the story and his unwillingness to look inward for the source of the problem. Kugelmass would rather continue to blame others for his unhappiness such as his first wife, his children, and his current wife, than look within himself to see if he is the problem...