Why was Dorothea's husband always so cold to her, not wanting her help when she offered it to him. She was a loving and doting wife but he never seemed pleased with her. why did he even ask her to marry him?
"I've noticed that everybody who is for abortion has already been born." Ronald Reagan.
I think that he grew threatened when he realized that letting her help him would mean exposing his work to her possible criticism. When Will tells her that the Germans have already covered much of what he's done, and he's wasting his life, she realizes suddenly his limitations, and he sensed she was capable of pointing them out.
Women then were supposed to be pretty, pious, and not too bright. A smart woman was a rather scary thing.
I have no idea why he asked to marry her. He didn't seem to want her body or brains. So why did he? Beats me.
shareHe's supposed to get married and set an example for his parishioners. Dorothea seemed the perfect partner to him because she seemed to worship him. He imagined a blissful domestic life in which she took care of his home and comforts and looked up to him with great admiration.
Plus, he's getting up there in age. A young healthy wife will be the perfect nurse for him in his old age.