Men are seen at their worst in this novel, perpetuating the patriarchal society they live in (e.g Harpo feeling societal strain to beat Sofia). Harpo has been taught his priviledged position in life, and little else. "Women work, I'm a man" he says while still essentially a boy. Albert teaches Harpo that women have to be beaten, because they are like children, and yet men are the childish ones throughout the book, and their ridiculous and generally pathetic nature is revealed more throughout the book. When Albert is left alone, he has to be comforted like a child, by his son.