Rarely is the husband a villain. He is often a good man on paper—reliable, non-violent, successful. But his flaw is apathy . He has stopped courting his wife. He mistakes routine for stability. In romantic storylines, the husband represents the predictable third act: he will either fight for Maris out of bruised ego or let her go with cold resignation. The tension lies in whether he notices her unhappiness before it is too late.
Contrast the "cold tea and sweets" Mari offers (traditional hospitality) with the growing tension of the situation. Married Woman Maris Sexual Circumstances - The ...