Mrs. Ames cannot make autonomous decisions because of her husband’s overbearing propensities. When the plumber speculates “that the water seals aren’t working,” Mrs. Ames responds, “I’m sorry—I’m sorry that my husband…is still—resting and cannot go into this with you.” Her reaction reveals that she is petrified of making the pronouncement as regards the plumbing system. She presumes that it is her husband who should have the ultimate say regarding the plumbing repairs. Instead of teaming up with the plumper, she is focused on her husband who is still sleeping. The deficiency of concentration on the task at hand conjectures that she is apprehensive of how spouse would respond should he find that they made judgments regarding the plumping without his input.
Mrs. Ames espouses all-time low self-esteem. Kay Boyle writes, “"You'll probably have to have the traps sealed," said the plumber grimly, and at the sound of this Mrs. Ames' hand flew in dismay to the side of her face.” Mrs. Ames’ consternation infers that she accept as true that she is incompetent to partake masculine responsibilities such as sealing the traps. Mrs. Ames presupposes that men are more adept than women, that is why she would rather the plumber fixes the traps instead of entrusting her the duty.
The plumber, even though his occupation may not sound as high-level as an astronomer’s, opens the astronomer’s wife’s eyes more extensively than her husband. Kay Boyle elucidates, “Whereas her husband had always gone up, as the dead go, she knew now that there were others who went down, like the corporeal being of the dead. That men were then divided into two bodies now seemed clear to Mrs. Ames. This knowledge stunned her with its simplicity and took the uneasy motion from her limbs.” The exchanges with the plumper enables the astronomer’s wife to recognize additional, relative truths other than the absolute, subjective views imparted in her mind by her husband. Arguably, the husband prompted his wife to be gratified with his viewpoint of life. Nevertheless, the plumper deconstructs all the astronomer’s ideals which govern the astronomer’s wife’s outlook. The plumper validates the rationality of his proclamations in a substantial way that prompts the astronomer’s wife to go ‘into the earth’ and participate in the repair course.
