Kay Boyle’s “Astronomer’s Wife” is the story of an inhibited woman named Mrs. Ames who is married to a domineering and apparently abusive astronomer. In the beginning of the story Mrs. Ames awakens early one morning to a visit from the plumber sent to repair a water leak inside the house. Through Mrs. Ames’ interaction with the plumber a sense of fearful yet curious nature is easily perceived. She gives the plumber any …showed first 75 words of 709 total…

…showed last 75 words of 709 total…or sometimes the other thing. But there’s always a help for everything amiss.”(95). The author’s use of indirect presentation is an essential element of the story. Without such lavish description the audience would not be able to completely understand the bundle of emotions being presented through the narrator’s insight. In conclusion, Kay Boyle did an excellent job of presenting the central idea that emotional despair often causes people to pursue happiness elsewhere.