Chapter 9 Summary

Hurstwood lives in a nice home with his wife and two children. Hurstwood feels that appearance is of great importance so he continues in a marriage that he no longer finds satisfying. Hurstwood feels his wife is more interested in the children, especially their teenage daughter, than in him. Hurstwood also feels that his wife and daughter spend much of the day spending his hard-earned money in order to keep up with their much more successful friends. Hurstwood would never have an affair that would cause public scandal, but he does indulge in the occasional dalliance.

Chapter 9 Analysis

This chapter introduces Hurstwood in deeper detail, suggesting he will be a larger part of the plot development soon. Hurstwood seems to be a typical upper middle class man who works hard to give the appearance of being wealthier in order to keep up with...