Carla’s marriage
When Carla marries Clark, she looks forward to a blissful marriage full. Carla disobeys her parents' warning and runs away with Clark because she believes he will give her everything she needs in life. Ironically, the marriage turns out to be nasty. The problems start when they face financial difficulties because Clark needs to qualify for a well-paying job. Later, Clark becomes abusive and makes Carla's life miserable.
Betrayal
Sylvia has good intentions when she gives Carla new clothes and money and advises her to run to Toronto and live with her friend. Initially, Carla told Sylvia about the suffering she goes through under her husband. Carla agrees to the plan. Paradoxically, mid-way, Carla changes her mind and calls her husband. Carla tells Clark that it is Sylvia who advised her to escape. Clark takes revenge on Sylvia when he storms her house at night and threatens her.
The irony of love
Love is ironic, and Alice Munro illustrates its complexity using the character Carla. Carla discovers that Clark does not love her and is advised to run away, but she remembers that she loves Clark and forgives him. Clark is abusive and threatening, but Carla perseveres because she loves him. Carla suffers in silence because she fears telling her parents what she is going through.
