The sexual relationship between Louise and John is passionate and impulsive. While this connection fulfills Louise at first, it loses its excitement when she and John fear that she may be pregnant and hastily decide to get married. While this is an ostensibly mature, responsible decision, Louise is still young and unsure of what she wants out of life. Forced into adult roles as a wife and mother, Louise mourns her lost youth and becomes resentful of the male authority she believes has oppressed her throughout her life.