why did she stay ??
the husband was horrible.
shareso her work would be published and read
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MovieChat Forums > The Wife (2018) Discussion > why did she stay ??
@ hownos
If my husband ever cheated on me, I would simply shut off all feeling towards him. Then I see myself drifting off and focusing on other men. I would respond to infidelity so differently from the way Glenn Close's character did. I agree with you: she was far too charitable towards that diseased prick of a husband she had.
Cheating is an absolute no-no....
It's weird because prior to meeting my husband, I didn't think much of fidelity. But it was my husband who showed me the value of true intimacy, loyalty, and monogamy.
It boggles my mind that "the wife" stayed until the very end. Maybe she did it for her children's sake.
she used him as a vessel to get her work published and read. she didn't wish to be the author of one of those crusty old unread books on the shelf -- if she could even get that far as a female writer at that time. that's why she wants no sympathy or projections of victimhood. she was once one of his girls. she knew him all the way through and proceded anyway. he wanted the groupies and adoration. she wanted to be read. it's not a simple "cheating husband" tale.
shareMy wife would never put up with such behavior
shareI imagined her telling herself that, oh, well, she knew he was like this given he cheated on his previous wife, with Joan when she was young. "This is how men are; let's try to work around it" seems to be the theme of these women in this film. I've certainly heard messages like that, given I'm 60, now. Even now I hear people who believe men and women are, by nature, the things we know as stereotypes. Averages aren't identities.
shareEven though she had extreme talent, she lacked confidence. One flippant comment by that flamboyant authoress put her off seeking a career in her own name as a writer. Her husband became her only conduit for writing. In return, she got all trappings of 1950s housewife conventions - a nice home, children, a successful husband.
sharesad
shareThere were many successful women authors in the 1950s (and long before). The idea that she couldn't get published because she was female is ridiculous.
shareThat was kind of weak premise. I wish the film gave more insight into her writing. Maybe that could have explained why she was so timid.
shareIt was like that flashback to when she worked in a publishing office. Wonderful writing, but - I dk it just doesn't grab me. It's soft. But if it had been written by a man, the very same words, it would be an earthshatteringly new way of writing. The double standards are real. Yes, there were successful women writers, but a small proportion, not 50-50.
Too bad she "fell in love" with the prof. He was super cringe. And maybe she was worse, because it seems it was her idea. I'm sure there are many more sick and twisted relationships out there - like the SCOTUS Thomases.
At that point, she was 60+. Who else would have her? If she left, she would be alone for the rest of her life. And she did not have the courage or confidence to re-enter the dating world at 60.
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