"He has very beautiful intentions," Jeanette says to her son Joe because her husband Jerry suddenly goes wildfire. He loses his job as a golf instructor, which he is proud of working. He seems so eager to get the job for wildfire. This is one scene from the novel "Wildlife" by Richard Ford, which I’m researching for my thesis.

The story is set in Great Falls, Montana, in the US in 1960. A 17-year-old boy named Joe lives there with his parents. One day, Joe’s father Jerry loses his job, and since then, their lives have changed rapidly. Their family breaks up at once; however, mysteriously, they decide to live together again after half a year. This story tells us how strong family connections are and how powerful intimate and influential relationships can be.

Actually, the work is made into a movie, so I usually watch it when I want to review the story quickly. This movie helps me to get a birds-eye view. Sometimes I focus too much on my work that I overlook the important essence of the story, so I have to try to see the big picture.

I’m writing my thesis with this story, paying attention to Joe and Jerry’s manhood and masculinity. His odd behavior shows his anxiety about losing his masculinity, such as earning money by working and providing for his wife and son as a breadwinner. The movie always asks me if it is the main theme of this work. I believe this perspective is really helpful to criticize it accurately. The movie isn’t close to the novel, I mean, the movie arranged some scenes from the work. However, it is successful as a movie that captures the characteristics.