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Chapter 10: A Man Without a Job

In societal norms and expectations, a man is deemed a failure if he cannot earn for his family, cannot provide for his wife and children. The ebb and flow of economic times and circumstances are not taken into account. When the burden of financial constraints crushes a man's spirit, the collateral damage touches every sphere of his life.

From the significant other he vowed to protect and provide for, to the innocent eyes of his children looking up to him for sustenance, the judgement is harsh and cold. The gaze of the woman he loves can sometimes reflect melancholy and pity, an unintended insinuation of his failure. The naive queries of his progeny, comparing their lifestyle with their more privileged peers, stabs like a searing poker through his heart.

The society that once lauded him, the friends who enjoyed his company, now keep him at arm's length. They are more comfortable frolicking with those who do not muddy their revelry with the pall of monetary worries. A man without a job is often perceived as a man living on borrowed riches, tarnishing their merry, affluent gatherings.

The slighting doesn't stop within the familial boundaries or amongst friends. His siblings, celebrating their accomplishments, punctuate their success by comparing it against his descent, tagging him as an underachiever. Even his schoolmates, once his partners in dreams and aspirations, avoid him like a contagious disease.

Even within the spiritual confines of his church, he might feel slighted. Where he once found solace and spiritual enrichment, he now experiences veiled disregard, as the attention and respect move towards the more affluent churchgoers. 

The reality hits hard when he watches his family go to bed on a hungry stomach. It tears at his soul, questioning his purpose in life. He broods over the successes of other men, compares them with his vain efforts to make ends meet. The inklings of self-doubt creep in, pushing him further down the abyss of despair, often muttering, "Where did I go wrong?".

In solitary moments, he reminisces the former version of himself, a man filled with dreams and the zeal to conquer the world. These memories only serve to deepen the wound, making it harder for him to face his current circumstances, often reducing him to tears.

And when he retreats into the familiar arms of his wife, searching for solace and consolation, the monetary stress ensures he is unable to perform. The churning chaos of his financial woes inhibits his primal urges, causing discomfort and further disappointment.

An unemployed man is seen as less attractive, less appealing. He is bereft of the necessary self-esteem needed to face the world with head held high. Stripped of confidence, his struggle is constant, living each day in an arduous parade of self-doubt, the fear of failure, and the crushing weight of societal expectations. Everyone can describe him, but no one can understand his struggle.