Ann, is struggling for inner satisfaction and happiness in her marriage. Her name is used only once in the literary work illustrating that she has very little individuality; she feels she is simply an extension of her husband, John. Her motivation is caused by her selfish attitude and propensity to focus on John's flaws; this derives from her desire for John to change. As a farmer's wife she feels an increasing isolation, especially during winter months with "the silence weighing upon her" (Ross 139) and "the clock [that] tick[s] on like a glib little idiot" (166). Ann's perception of John and her isolation motivates her decision to sleep with Steven. In the story “A Temporary Matter” we see a couple that has lost the spark in their relationship after Shoba gave birth to a still borne, ultimately leading to her ending the relationship with Shukumar. Both of these stories show how any relationship, if not kept healthy, honest, and maintained can lead to a lack of trust or in severe cases, a breakup. Both Shukumar and Waythorn experience a sense of isolation in their marriages, yet Shukumar is the character who has to endure more by the ending of the story, due to a broken heart, the dependence on his wife and the time he invested in their relationship. 1) What does the darkness symbolize for Shoba and Shukumar and how does it affect their relationship?
For Shoba and Shukumar, the darkness represents an opportunity for them to reconnect and avoid the troubles and grief of the day. In the darkness, they can ignore the sorrow present in their everyday lives due to the loss of their baby. Through Shoba’s introduction of their nightly game of telling secrets, it becomes exciting and Shukumar begins to look forward to it. However, the darkness does not eliminate their marital problems and sorrow over their child’s death; they are simply able to disregard it for a short