The Control In Dimensions By Alice Munro

The Control in Dimensions by Alice Munro

The story Dimensions by Alice Munro follows a grieving mother Doree who struggles to find her place in the world after suffering a tragic event. It is imperative to understand that Doree and her husband Lloyd lived in an unhealthy relationship that was fueled by the balance of power and control over one another. Munro wanted readers to be introduced into the emotional and psychological lives of her characters.The emotional connection that is built throughout the story between Doree and the reader helps lead up to a very satisfying resolution. The tone of the story has a depressing vibe, but small amounts of hope still linger in the background because Doree is attempting to move on from atrocious

The first time Lloyd catches Doree in this weak state is the very moment the doomed couple laid eyes upon each other. Doree was slumped in a hospital chair worrying about her ailing mother. Lloyd charmed Doree with his witty jokes and their common interest in music. It was clear to Lloyd that Doree needed a “shoulder to cry on”, especially once her mother succumbed to complications caused by her operation. As mentioned before, Lloyd invited Doree into his home. The split seconds Doree expressed vulnerability, Lloyd took advantage of it and used it to prove his power he exhibited over Doree. Lloyd had money, Lloyd could support Doree, and Lloyd could be a loving father. To Doree, Lloyd seemed like the perfect man. Soon after, Lloyd would begin to prod at Doree’s insecurities like her incapability to breastfeed their son, Dimitri. Lloyd believes that the reason for this is because Doree is a “whore”. Readers learn about Lloyd’s insufferable arrogance by the way he talks about women in general and the way he talks to Doree. Once Doree gave in to Lloyd’s bullying, Lloyd would act like the superior figure of the family who knew the answer to every question. This boosted his confidence and fueled his ego. Her children also became vulnerable the night that they were attacked. When Doree left her home, the children were in Lloyd’s care. Her children became target and Lloyd had the

Now that Doree was gone and there was no indication of if and when she would come back, Lloyd’s anger spun him out of control. Doree was not there to comfort him or keep him from becoming violent. To Lloyd, the children may have been a visual representation of Doree whom minutes before had walked out of their relationship. The murders sent both Doree and Lloyd through a psychological breakdown resulting in both of them receiving mental health treatment. Later in the story, Lloyd continued to pull on Doree’s heart strings bringing her back to a vulnerable place when Doree receives a letter from him stating, “I have seen the children. I have seen and talked to them” (Munro 25). Lloyd believes that their children are in another dimension. A place that existed just wide of the corner of the eye. Doree is in a place of confusion and disbelief thinking Lloyd had gone completely mad. Deirdre Donahue explains it perfectly towards to beginning of her article written for USA Today when she writes that Lloyd had an “emotional grip on her” (Donahue). A part of Doree wanted his accusations to be sincere because she simply could not overcome the vast amount of guilt she felt for leaving her