Are These Actual Miles? Quote Response

Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
page # 584

1) "Once, last winter, during the holidays when Toni and the kids were visiting his mother's, Leo brought a woman home."

This quote is important to the story in many ways. It shows Leo's character, and how he is not satisfied with his relationship or just life in general. That maybe he needs more excitement in his life. It also conforms to the same aspects of the fifties that other authors have shown, the classic affair

2) "He listens to the traffic on the highway and considers whether he should go to the basement, stand on the utility sink, and hang himself with his belt."

Leo has gone bankrupt, and his life is spiraling downward fast. This quote shows the general attitude toward life in the 50's, and the regular life in the 50's. People were having monetary problems, relationship problems, and some had drinking problems. Leo has all three of these in this story, and he expresses his feelings by contemplating suicide.