The reasons for Grace leaving her husband urges us to sympathise for her as she felt isolated and alone, rather than accepted and loved. As being loved is something that everyone wants to feel as well as being accepted, the reader feels sorry for Grace as her marriage (something that is portrayed to bring love and acceptance) had the opposite effect than that which was expected. A the reader feels this way towards Grace her actions are accepted and she is not thought of as the person in the wrong, rather her husband is. This is because of the things he thinks of and how he views and treats his wife. Living in an era where men and woman are accepted as equals and treated accordingly also shapes your ideas towards Patrick and the way he treats her. “She’s like ice’ he thought” this suggests the type of things that he thinks about her because he no longer finds it easy to connect with her. He also only really starts to pay attention to her again when she wins something that he can use to improve his image and lifestyle. This alludes to the idea that he only tries to know/talk to her when she has something that he wants. This is read/viewed to be selfish and rude, causing the reader to have a negative view of patrick. “He’d always expected in a trusting sort of way to be rewarded, but not through Grace.” “He’d worn better than Grace, anyone could see that, and yet it was he who had had the hard time.” This furthers the idea that the reader has of Patricks thoughts towards Grace; that he doesn’t think too much of her and had accepted the fact that she was nothing too special and wouldn’t really further him in any kind of way. Because of this perception he has of his females have a negative view of him, as they want to be thought of as equal and that they have the opportunity to be anyone and achieve things as great if not greater than men.