The Pain of Entropy
There are nine main characters in The Overstory. Seven are introduced as individuals, although their lives later merge. In contrast, Ray and Dorothy are becoming a couple from the first line of their narrative.
Their relationship starts out as incredibly tumultuous. Ray is rock-solid, steady, and romantic, with Dorothy ambivalent and commitment-phobic in contrast. When he does win her heart, they experience a lush, green period and plant trees in their yard to celebrate their love.
Later, devastated by the pain of infertility, Dorothy’s descent into grief alienates them from one another. Ultimately, an unexpected turn of events brings out the best in her, and their marriage endures. But during the painful times, Ray can only wait, and the reader can feel the weight of the distance between them:
“Nothing at all happens, and it keeps on happening with great force and patience.”
