“Honey, if there is one thing I can’t stand it’s a hero without a cause. People like that just make trouble so that they can solve it” (159)
This passage struck me as unusual because those words are coming from an intoxicated woman who could barely capable of forming complete sentences. I think this quote is very important because even under the influence Gail could see right through the mistake that Z made. I think this passage is about confronting and the fact that he/she has commitment issues. Z claims to have loved Louise but as soon he saw their relationship getting difficult he/she took that as hi/her opportunity to flee. Z is trying to convince him/herself that he/she did Louise a favor but really all Z did was leave Louis at a time when she needed him/her the most. The quote is saying that people like Z often look for the easy way out difficult situations and try to mask their acts of coward as being heroes or people who are trying to help. I think “People like that just make trouble so that they can solve it” is such an important piece of that statement because a few page ahead you can see that Z is constantly trying to get in touch with Elgin to check on Louise, almost trying to be her hero in disguise. Z likes to believe he/she has the power to still be relevant in Louise’s life but what Z doesn’t realize is he/she gave that right up the moment he/she left to fight her battle of cancer with a man she has no desire in loving. Although Z is no longer in Louise’s life he is still trying to solve the trouble he made. This passage is asking us to look at time as more of a essence. In this passage timing is everything. From the time the narrator agreed to accompany Gail to dinner after work lead up to Gail subconsciously calling Z out for his wrong doings to Louise.