1. Financial Problem
The first problem in Tom Rath’s life is about financial. Living as a veteran world war is not quite easy, especially in financial problem. Tom has to find
another job after world war. Everything in his mind is about to find money. With three kids is not easy if Tom doesn’t find a good job. Any kind of job Tom will
accept it if the salary is good. This is the quotation from the novel The Man In the Gray Flannel Suit
that strengthens the point above. “Betsy finished her drink and poured herself another. I’ve never thought of
you as a public relatios man, she said soberly. Would you like it? I’d like the money, Tom replied.” p. 6
In another part, Tom Rath almost sells his grandmother’s house in order to
get cash money. He does not think clearly about the consequences if he sells it. Maybe he can use the house to make money or something else, although the
house is inheritance from his grandmother. Luckily, the lawyer from his grandmother tell him not to sell the house too fast, and in the end Tom agree
with his advice. The following quotation is a proof to this explanantion above “I may need a cash,”Tom said. “I,m broke, and until the house is sold,
things are going to be tough. Don’t sell it too fast,” Sims said. “Your grandmother has twenty acres of the bast land in South bay.” p. 56
2. An Affair with Maria and War’s Bad Memories
This affair happened in Italy during the war. Maria is a girl from Rome that Tom met in Italy in 1944. Actually Tom had married before the war with
Betsy. But, With the chaos during the war, anything can be happen. Including having an affair with a local girl. The following quotation is a proof to to the
explanation above
“Maria was a girl he had known in Italy during the war, along time ago, and he never thought about the seventeen man he had killed” p. 13
Although Tom Rath tries to forget about Maria and the memories about
the war, suddenly a man named Caesar come up to his life. He is Tom’s friend from Italy during the war, and brings a news about Maria. After meet him, Tom
become more curious about the news from Maria, so when Caesar wants to meet him, Tom does not mind. He arrange a meeting while having lunch. The proof of
the explanantion above is written in this following quotation “Caesar, he said, did you ever hear anything about Maria? Caesar looked
down at the table. I did, he said. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. How is she? I haven’t heard anything lately, not for more than a year” p.
146
After meeting with Caesar Tom finally figures out about Maria. The good news is that Maria has married, Tom pleased about that. But, the bad news is that
Maria has a son and Tom is his father. Tom does not deny about that shocking news. He feels regret about the son. This is the quotation from Caesar whe tries to
explain about the story “You knew she married that guy who had the bakeshop, Louis Lapa? No
Tom said. When? Caesar seemed embarassed. She married him about two months after we left. You knew she had a son? He said. She had a son
alittle while later. No, Tom said. She’s got a boy, Caesar said, and things weren’t going well for them. You know Louis had a bad leg. I’m sorry to
hear that, Tom said.” p. 146
Caesar wants Tom to send a little money to Maria and his son every single month. But, Tom use a reason that he has a wife and three kids, and Tom can not
send anything to Maria without his wife finding about about it. It shows that actually Tom is an honest husband. The following quotation is a proof for the
explanantion above
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