At first, the boss appears to be a harsh man, however, remembering his late son, he "[manages] to cry" (Mansfield 25 ). This passage suggests that the boss has too much control over his emotions. To show any emotion, the boss has to isolate himself and when he does, he is still unable to cry. This control may be influenced by society, because at that time men did not cry. Because of this belief, the boss prevents himself from expressing any emotion, which prevents him from dealing with his grief, let alone understanding it. Additionally, to understand grief, it is crucial to first let go. Considering that the boss couldn't do it, he reveals that his mental state could be suppressed. Mansfield also suggests that the death “could have happened yesterday” (29). Here, it is clear that the boss was unable to recover. His son's death is still fresh in his mind and he has not been able to clarify his thoughts. In an attempt to conform to society's views, the boss tries hard to put aside his sorrow, but the sorrow always returns. He doesn't realize that he must submit to his grief instead of fighting it. The fact that six years have passed without progress demonstrates a lack of understanding of its