Who could do such a thing? Kirk could.
-- Narrator

Importance: Though Rachel has recently learned that her brother Saul has been diagnosed with liver cancer, she directs all of her sadness onto his boyfriend, Kirk. When she hears that Kirk is breaking up with Saul, she becomes angry and bitter. This moment illustrates Rachel's inability to process her true emotions. Instead of expressing her sorrow and shock at Saul's sickness, she rants about Kirk's gracelessness. The moment is not only revealing of Rachel's avoidant personality, but contributes to the author's explorations regarding grief.

I had my own life, of course, my own work, my own loyalties.
-- Narrator

Importance: For the first several pages of the short story, Rachel devotes her account to describing Saul's sickness, his relationship with Kirk, and her ex Nick's daughter Nadia. Though "Freedom from Want" is narrated from Rachel's first person point of view, Rachel provides few details about her...