The man seems to have some fond memories of the woman, describing her appearance in a positive light and emphasising their closeness. It shows that there was a time of happiness and contentment with life. However, the man quickly realises that he must wake up from dreaming about the past as that's not his life anymore. He's become bitter, to an extent, that his life is so cold and dark, compared to how it used to be. The woman was clearly a source of comfort and love for the man, but he's lost her and he must remember that.
Page 54 - "The clocks stopped at 1:17. ... What is happening?"
The woman is conveyed as the weaker than the man. When the apocalypse happens, she doesn't appear to have any survival instinct and simply questions the man over what he's doing. She doesn't understand that he's filling the bath to store water, she has a limited ability to cope with the situation. However, this section indicates that she has a maternal side as she instinctively cradles her belly, as if she's protecting her unborn child. She seeks comfort and relies on the man, as he is quick-thinking and strong, although her strength could be perceived through her want to keep her child safe.
Page 56 - "He thought about the picture in the road ... You mean you wish that you were dead."
The man is conflicted over whether to keep the woman's memory in his and his son's life. He doesn't want the boy to linger over past memories by needing his mother. The man himself believes that if he thinks about her, then he will become emotionally weaker and therefore put him and the boy in danger. The woman became extremely cynical and less loving by her death and the man doesn't want the boy to end up like this. He wishes to distance them from her as she can't help them in any way now.
Page 57 - "What in God’s name are you talking about? We’re not survivors. We’re the walking dead in a horror film ... The one thing I can tell you is that you wont survive for yourself."
The woman has completely given up hope of achieving happiness and salvation in this desolate world. Her attitude towards the situation is one of anger and bitterness and she can't see a way to survive. She is the only one to see the cold truth of their circumstances and this causes a huge conflict in her relationship with the man, who still retains some kind of hope. The fact that the man and the boy aren't enough to keep her alive suggest that she is selfish as they're her family, but she won't stay strong for them.
Page 60 - "She was gone and the coldness of it was her final gift ... wrapped his son in a towel."
The woman distancing herself from the man and the boy could be interpreted as an act of love. In a way, she's attempting to protect their emotions and minds by trying to make them care less about her. If they dislike her, then it's possible that her death may be easier to deal with. The woman's detachment from the man and the boy was a "gift" as it made them stronger. After the woman's death, the man seems more paternal as he's the only thing he has left.
Well done Roma. Your explanation for each quotation demonstrates a growing understanding of the function of the character. To move your thinking on why not begin to consider where and when the woman appears in the narrative. I'd also recommend looking at Chloe's response.
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