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How does Tom's life change as a result of his ordeal on the ledge?

"In the Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets" Tom Benecke has a revelation about the direction of his life and his misguided use of time.


Early in the story, Tom is focused on advancing his career at the expense of his relationship with his wife and his enjoyment of leisure activities. He spent most of his non-working hours doing research on an idea for making the grocery industry more efficient. Instead of balancing his work life with his home life, he put his relationship with his wife on hold, promising her things would be better when his idea came to fruition. His life was out of balance.


After his ordeal on the ledge, which represented a near death experience, Tom realized his transgression. As he hung on the ledge, he realized how insignificant his life was, and how important his wife was to him. Once off the ledge, he rushed off to be with his wife as she enjoyed a movie. This is symbolic of his new appreciation for life and relationships.

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