Many things contribute to define one's role in society, such as the time period, the beliefs one holds, and the setting in which one domesticates their life. In Ross Sinclair's The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories, the time and the setting that the stories take place define the roles that the characters take on in the stories, and become central to the conflicts in many of the various relationships. Many of the men in the stories set up emotional barriers that the women dare not overstep, in order to retain their position as the simple housewife. The conflicts between the partners in the various relationships seem to suggest Ross" pessimistic view to the roles defined by society for men and women, unlike in Saramago's Blindness where the characters are able to adapt to their changing surroundings when blindness strikes.
The women in these stories must repress the knowledge they have in order to appease the passion their husbands have for their land. This repression leads to bitterness towards their husbands, which they are unable to express for fear of compromising their husband's pride. Many of the stories result in a tragedy due to the woman leaving her knowledge and feelings unsaid, such as in "A Field of Wheat" when the storm destroys their crop and they do not have insurance because John was "too stubborn to listen" (71) to Martha. The tragedies that result in many of the stories could reflect Sinclair's views of these relationships if the partners continue to emotionally isolate themselves from their spouse. Near the end in "A Field of Wheat", Martha discovers her husband weeping over the loss of their crop, and instead of consoling her husband she "crept away" because "it would be unbearable to watch his humiliation if he looked up and saw her" (76). At this point in the story we witness the emotional division of the characters in to their respected roles. By not allowing John to see her, she allows him to remain as the strong head of the household, and she remains as the diligent housewife.
