I think that if any of the emotional fiction is true, I might forgive Shakespeare a little for all the misogyny, xenophobia, and racism laced throughout his plays.

I get why he is treated without being named. Names are so important and have been used as symbolism by authors for centuries. In this book, he is the least important person, the least deserving of my attention, and if anything, kind of the villain. But he is also the same as many other man - philandering, self-centered, grieving, privileged, and oblivious to the patriarchy. And he is as absent to me as he was to his family.

Agnes was a well written character worthy of my empathy and respect.