Patty Berglund is a complex character in Jonathan Franzen’s novel “Freedom”. In chapter 1, “Good Neighbor”, the reader is introduced to Patty as a seemingly perfect wife and mother living in St. Paul, Minnesota. However, as the chapter progresses, it becomes clear that Patty is struggling with her role as a suburban housewife and is searching for something more meaningful in her life.
One of the key aspects of Patty’s character is her need for control. This is evident in the way she meticulously plans out every detail of her life, from her diet and exercise routine to the activities of her children. She even has a strict cleaning schedule for her home that she adheres to religiously. This need for control stems from her fear of chaos and unpredictability, which she sees as threats to her carefully constructed world.
This fear of chaos is also reflected in Patty’s relationship with her husband Walter. Although they appear to have a happy marriage on the surface, there are hints that all may not be well beneath the surface. For example, when Walter tries to initiate sex with Patty one evening, she responds by thinking about all the things she needs to do instead:
“She wanted nothing so much at this moment as to slip into some comfortable clothes and clean out the refrigerator.”
This quote shows how Patty uses tasks and routines as a way to avoid confronting difficult emotions or situations in her life. It also suggests that she may be avoiding intimacy with Walter.
Despite these struggles, Patty maintains an outward appearance of perfection. She is admired by her neighbors for being a good cook, an attentive mother, and a supportive wife. However, this admiration only serves to increase Patty’s sense of isolation and disconnection from those around her:
“The same people who were always inviting them over for dinner parties seemed not to know anything about them.”
This quote highlights how Patty feels like she is wearing a mask around others and that nobody truly knows the real her. It also hints at her desire for deeper connections and a sense of belonging.
Overall, Patty’s character in chapter 1 is defined by her need for control, fear of chaos, and search for deeper meaning in her life. The reader can already see that she is on the cusp of an initiation into a new phase of her life, one where she may have to confront these fears and embrace vulnerability in order to find true happiness.
