Updike presents the reader of his novels and stories with the pseudo —
wise men of today's society — with Jimmy, the big Mouseketeer who quotes Socrates; with the neon owl that advertises pretzels; with Ken Whitman, the
scientist living in Tarbox who is considered intelligent in his field but who lacks a basic understanding of life; with Bech the writer, honored in direct proportion to the decline of his literary production; with Connor, the efficient, well - trained administrator of the
old people's home who fails to comprehend as much of life's mystery as his simple and sometimes senile wards do.