Throughout the text, Joe avoids social and moral obligation; he distances himself from conflict within his family and denies his own immoral actions. When his son, Chris, approaches him with a plan to marry the former fiancé of his missing brother, Joe refuses to get involved, knowing that his wife, Kate, will object. He tells Chris that the marriage is “‘only [his] business”’ (15). When Chris is angered by his avoidance, Joe responds defensively, claiming that he “‘ignore[s] what he[’s] gotta ignore’” (16). His refusal to engage in conflict, even if it could cause strife within his family, demonstrates Joe’s tendency to avoid responsibility. Later, when Kate implies that Joe is hiding from his own guilt, he is angered, and reacts defensively.