Class responses to Natalia Ginzburg's "He and I"

  What's primarily wrong in this marriage is that the narrator's insecurities of not measuring up to her husband's standards are fed by his teasing and casually critical remarks. 

   As with many couples, opposites attract--but to what extent does such an attraction hold a relationship together for years?

  The husband and wife have nothing in common.  It seems that he always puts her down, that she cannot do anything right, and it makes him look good.  Also, many stereotypes characterize the woman and man.

  They have nothing in common.  They argue about insignificant things.  She thinks he has a short attention span; he thinks she lacks initiative and curiosity.  They are both probably miserable and will probably have affairs and they'll probably stay married forever.

  Her husband is self-serving in every way and never considers the wife in anything.  From that the main problem comes with the wife always doing exactly what the husband would want.   The biggest problem may be the wife's adoration for her husband, making him out to be a god.

  The couple seems to have no middle ground.  It seems the things that each individual believes are almost polar opposites.  But they also seem to somewhat enjoy the fact that this drives each other crazy with their ideas.  They seem to have grown cold to the fact that they are a couple in marriage.

  They have nothing in common at all from the sound of it.  Plus, she seems like a total mouse, under his absolute control.  She seems to be in awe of him, and he seems to live his life without even acknowledging her existence at times.

  The wife seems to be more laid back than the husband.  He seems to feel that he is more cultured than she is and because of this puts himself higher than her.  They are opposites yet they love each other, idiosyncrasies and all. 

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