The novel is a way of thinking about the world, not just a way of describing it.
I don't care if you're black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you're nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Simple as that.
I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get.