Dead Man's Pockets

Words: 379
Pages: 2

In the book Contents of a Dead Man's Pockets, society's expectations and pressures for financial and socioeconomic success led the protagonist to prioritize materialism over his relationships and well being. In the beginning of the story the protagonist is described as a tall, lean, hardworking man. It becomes obvious to the reader that the protagonist is very invested in his work. Tom is driven by an intense desire to advance his career, often at the expense of his personal connections and self-care. This is evident when he dismissed his wife’s invitation to go to the movies, “‘It’s just that I hate you to miss this movie; you wanted to see it too.’ ‘Yeah I know.’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Got to get this done though’” (Finney