“And yet somehow this is what he came out with—an overweight, sullen wife who felt cheated out of the good things in life, who felt that she had backed the losing horse (but who would never come right out and say so) and an uncommunicative fifteen-year-old son who was doing marginal work.”

Stephen King introduces Richard’s wife and son, who make him miserable and are the impetus behind his drive to change his life. His discontent stems primarily from his bitter and sarcastic wife and his lazy and disrespectful son.

“This was a place he thought of as his own—a place where he could shut out the stranger he had married and the stranger she had given birth to.”

This quote refers to Richard’s study, which he treasures, as the one place of sanctuary from his family. His study provides an escape and an outlet where he can be himself. However, he is not completely free from his wife, as her portrait still hangs on the wall. The portrait symbolizes Richard’s meekness as he acquiesced when she demanded it hang in his study.

“He had dreamed and talked about owning a word processor for years, and when Lina’s laughter became too sarcastic to hear, he had talked about it to Jon.”

Richard’s inability to confide in his wife his hopes and aspirations leads him to communicate with Jon instead, deepening their bond and his desire to have him as a son instead of Seth.