A comedian once said, “Happy wife, happy life!” Have you ever stopped to realize that, when problems exist within the individual level, they also exist in many realms within relationships, be it spouses, children, coworkers or even strangers? Everything you do has an effect on someone. When the individual head of household is not at peace within himself and is instead angry, irresponsible and controlling, it cannot be expected that his family will be much more collected than himself. Such is the case in “Shout” by Dagoberto Gilb, where the reader has an inside look into the lives of a very realistic, young family who is struggling to beat the odds of their life situation. Through stresses consisting of finances and a bad job, combined with …show more content…
He took it that she’d been that way all day already.” (pg 434)
He begins drinking. Lost in his own world, he showers, watches TV and relaxes while his wife struggles to maintain order while cooking dinner in the background. Into his fifth beer, he snaps at his children who are complaining (pg 434-435). After yelling with his wife, he demands she leave – again showing another bout of irresponsibility as he could care less about being separated from his family. The man does not seem to grasp hold of his responsibility as the head of the household, and not only does he disregard the responsibility, but he acts out angrily when normal situations present themselves.
“Their children..as should be expected, battling over something. “Everybody shut up and be quiet!” he yelled. Of course that worsened the situation..” (pg 434)
He lashed out when an anonymous neighbor cursed his children and demanded they quiet down (pg 435). Instead of closing the window and quieting the baby, as to not provoke anything, the man ran outside instead, seeking out a fight. Yelling and hollering from the front yard, daring someone to meet him and settle their score; letting his anger get the best of him and ignoring his responsibility as a father and husband first and foremost in order to let his anger control