Critique Microtheme

Carson Slaven

Class Critique

W131

9/19/19

Marriage: The Blame Game

Eric Bartles, a father and feature writer for the Portland Tribune, expresses his viewpoints

on the issues in his marriage, and the difficulties of co-parenting within his article, “My Problem

with her Anger.” Although Bartles does a decent enough job of understanding where his wife’s

anger is coming from, he never seems to take the blame for any of the problems in their

marriage. ?Bartles inability to take the blame, could imply that he is not as innocent in the

marriage as he seems.

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The Portland writer claims that his wife began to build up anger and would then unleash

her wrath upon him, after becoming a mother. Bartles comes home from a long day at work,

takes care of the children and other household duties, only to be yelled at by his loving wife

about the things he needed to improve upon. Bartles explains his wife may have valid cause to be

stressed and angry, and even admitting to lashing out at times.

He also fesses up to his other

faults leading up to their marriage. On the contrary, Bartles doesn’t feel he deserves to be treated

in this manner because he feels he hasn’t done anything wrong, ultimately making her the bad

guy.

In the article, Bartles does not give the reader his wife’s perspective on their marriage. He

only provides unproven instances, where she appears to be scorning him for things of little

importance such as …’’why is there still water in the bathtub?” (33).

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Bartles will “wash clothes

the wrong way…”(33) or “spend too much time rinsing off dishes before loading them into the

dishwasher”(33).

Carson Slaven

Class Critique

W131

9/19/19

While the wife is portrayed as some controlling monster, Bartles is the victim whose

innocence seems to be so blatantly apparent. Besides admitting to occasionally losing his temper,

Bartles never mentions his wife being plagued with an angry hubby. The question of who’s

really to blame for the faults of their marriage will remain unknown to the reader, although

marriage usually consists of the imperfections of both partners. Even if they aren’t his problems,

Bartles only shares what he wants to be known. However, could Bartles be implying he is

unhappy in this marriage of his? From what we are given we can only speculate.

Carson Slaven

Class Critique

W131

9/19/19

Work Cited

Bartles, Eric. “My Problem with Her Anger.” ?Writing and Reading for ACP Composition,

Compiled by Christine R. Farris and Deanna M. Luchene, 3rd ed., Pearson 2019,

pp. 31-37.