Reading Notes #2 A Glutton For Punishment Jacob Grasso LCS 461-B Professor Marnane 5/30/2022 ● Walter Henderson protagonist ● Grew up playing cops and robbers with friends ● Favorite game to play was this as he wasn’t particularly good at sports ● Now grown, Walter suffers from daily incompetence and inability to locate essential items of his due to his anxiety ● Walter always secretly wanted to be a loser, craving pity from others, always hoping to get injured or lose when participating in both physical and mental activities ● Knowing he is about to get fired from his job, it seems that Walter’s anxiety comes across almost as excitedness ● Once he is officially let go by his former company, he becomes extremely anxious, hyper aware of his surroundings, and overanalyzing himself knowing that everyone is staring wondering what had just happened during Walter’s conversation with his boss ● Walter can’t wait to tell his former co-workers that he was let go, eagerly awaiting their pitiful reactions ● He feels helpless to his strange enjoyment of repeated failures, but continues to pretend to strive for success by immediately looking for a new job ● During his job search, all agencies tell Walter that there are no openings in his field at the moment ● He calls a recruiter who asks if he is doing okay, as Walter’s voice trembles as he asks for an update on an opening ● He lies to the man saying everything is just fine as his voice finally strengthens, he feels empowered by these untruths ● He even lies to his own wife about his work situation, never telling her he was let go hoping that he’ll find a new job in due time ● Walter day-dreamed of finally telling his wife the truth once he has things figured out ● As he passes by the library, he reminisces about meeting his wife there years ago ● The scene overwhelms him with nostalgia, and forces him to have a new outlook on life ● Once he gets home greets his family and unwinds, he tries to keep up the lies, but eventually folds to his new approach and for the first time utters the absolute truth to his wife
