In Alice Munro's "Lives of Girls and Women," the narrator reflects on the nature of disappointment in relationships, contrasting her feelings toward a significant male figure and her maternal relatives. The distinction lies in how the male character's self-centeredness offers a sense of ease and comfort, as opposed to the weight of expectations often felt from her mother and aunts. This suggests a complexity in navigating personal connections, highlighting the different emotional landscapes created by gender dynamics.

The narrator implies that disappointing someone can evoke varying levels of anxiety based on the person's expectations and behavior. While disappointing her family represents a deeper emotional burden, the male figure's relaxed demeanor provides a contrasting relief. This nuanced exploration of relationships reveals insights into the gendered experiences of disappointment and the complicating factors in human connections.