Book two presents several intentional comparisons and contrasts: Tommy Barban acts out his wildest ideas, while Dick only fantasizes and counters himself before he makes a move. Franz and his wife may seem "dull," but are quite stable in comparison to Nicole and Dick. Baby Warren, NicoleÂ’s socialite sister, is the picture of strength in comparison to Nicole; she is also shown to be a more clever manipulator than Dick himself. Rosemary is the picture of youth and innocence in contrast to the manipulative Warren sisters.

Nicole and Dick never directly talk of his womanizing or her experience with her father, but it is clear why they are together, how it happened, why they are "suited" for each other, and how they are perfectly unhappy as a married couple. Nicole wants constant attention, and Dick refuses to give it. When he opens the clinic, he seems to submerse himself in work to escape his home life. Nicole complains of feeling lonely. No longer infatuated with his wife, Dick is attracted to other women and cannot resist temptation. Nicole sees her husband eyeing other women, including Rosemary, and her sense of betrayal is, of course, deep. Dick tries to rationalize his behavior since he feels so trapped by the clinic, the Warren money, and NicoleÂ’s craziness. Neither husband nor wife is willing to directly tackle problems; instead, Nicole escapes into her fits, and Dick escapes into his alcohol and shallow affairs.

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