Distinguishing one's priorities is a task often ignored, but vital to a balanced life. In the story, "The Company Man", Ellen Goodman uses imagery, in addition to style, to convey the theme that getting too engrossed in a job will sever relationships, isolate you, and destroy physical and mental health.
Goodman employs imagery to illustrate that Phil's family does not know much about him due to the self-isolation that results from his job. His son "went around the neighborhood, researching his father, asking the neighbors what he [is] like." (Goodman Paragraph 9) Phil is so wrapped up in his job that his children literally do not know what he is like. Phil's absorption in his job depicts how laughably oblivious he is of the disconnection with his family. Phil's physical and mental health also deteriorates because of his overworking nature. Phil "was overweight and nervous and worked too hard. If he [isn't] at the office, he [is] worried about it." (Goodman Paragraph 14) He is so possessed with the need to work that his mind is taken over with anxiety and he cannot relax or take care of himself properly. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and balancing activities accordingly would likely eliminate his problems. Working so hard will eventually run you into the ground.…show more content… Goodman refers to Phil's son as the ""dearly beloved" eldest of the "dearly beloved children"". (Goodman Paragraph 9) Goodman uses quotations to surround the phrase "dearly beloved" so that the reader infers sarcasm, thus Goodman reinforces the idea that Phil is, in essence, blinded and isolated by his job. Because Phil was so unbalanced "He worked himself to death, finally and precisely, at 3:00 A.M. Sunday morning." (Goodman Paragraph 1) Goodman repeats this expression twice in the story to augment the already established
