The Painted Door

Being in a marriage means one is committed to the spouse, and when one is not engaged in it, the relationship may become a failure. Sinclair Ross' short story "The Painted Door" describes the life of a married couple living on a farm. Ann, feeling abandoned by her husband, John, falls for their friend, Steven, which eventually leads to the tragic ending. Although it may seem that Ann should be exclusively blamed as the cause of John's death, John is also partially responsible for his morbidity.

Ann, who many may think is the primary cause of John’s death, is an insecure woman. Ann often feels isolated and lonely; she seeks for attention from John. Her attitude indirectly results in the death of her partner. She feels as if she is “as important as [his] father” (1), and expects John to stay home with her. Ann equivocally tells John how she feels. Instead of communicating and solving the problem, she tells John to “pay no attention to [her]” (1). The lack of engrossment in this marriage causes the couple to grow apart. Ann constantly makes comparisons between her husband and Steven. She feels that any other man “would have put his wife first” (5). She notes how John is “responsible for her unhappiness” (4). She is very judgmental of her partner’s personality and appearance. Steven’s “handsome,..., young and clean-shaven” face (7) is a comparison she makes regularly to John’s unsettled appearance. Ann has always “been afraid to see them side by side” (7) because she has always known that Steven is the more attractive one. She blames John’s personality in order “to justify her rebellious thoughts” (4) of having an affair. If John is more sensitive instead of working for fifteen hours every day, her unhappiness would not exist. Ann purposely changes to another dress and rearranges her hair with “a little flush of colour in her face” (6). This partially leads to Ann’s betrayal with Steven. She knows “[John] always comes” (7), yet she still commits adultery. Ann knows she is at wrong; she has the “sense of guilt” (9) that she tries to accuse John of causing.

As the man of this marriage, John is insensitive to how Ann feels, and therefore indirectly causes the problems this marriage encounters. He is a man who is simple-minded and is “content with his farm and cattle” (1). His loyalty to Ann brings him home despite the blizzard. He treats this marriage as if it is an occupation. Instead of taking care of his physical appearance, John is more of a practical man who needs “to spend a little time on [himself]” (2). His personality bores his wife. He is introverted, and feels “it [is] easier to stay at home” (4). Even though John’s intention is to provide the best for Ann, it never occurs to him that what Ann ultimately wants is his companionship, “not pretty clothes” (3). John’s stubborn personality is also one of the causes of his death. He comes home even in “the wildest, coldest nights” (8). He knows the danger of his action, yet he still leaves the house after seeing his wife with another man.

Both parties in this marriage fail to understand the needs of each other. They choose not to discuss their problems; they choose not to solve them. Ann’s dependant personality causes her unhappiness, but John’s stubborn and ignorant personality leads to his death.