The World According to Garp Chapter Summary & Analysis - The Eternal Husband Summary

The Eternal Husband Summary

Garp and Helen have been married for eleven years and Garp has never had a real job. This revelation occurs to Garp one day while browsing the Yellow Pages of the phone book and he wonders if he is capable of any of the listed professions such as ministry or marriage counseling.

Garp is interrupted from his phone book reverie by Duncan asking permission to stay overnight at his friend Ralph's house. Garp does not approve of Ralph's mother and does not want Duncan to go but ultimately relents and Duncan leaves on his bike.

Garp begins to fix dinner and is interrupted by the sound of a speeding car which he chases until the driver sees him and stops. Surprisingly, the car is driven by Ralph's mother whose name escapes Garp at the moment and he calls her "Mrs. Ralph" to himself. Mrs. Ralph is annoyed at having been...
(read more)