When he was about twelve or thirteen he walked into his parents' bedroom in the half-house on Jackson Road not expecting his father to be there, and the old man was standing in front of his bureau in just socks and an undershirt, innocently fishing in a drawer for his undershorts, that boxer style that always looked sad and dreary to Harry anyway, and here was his father's bare behind, such white buttocks, limp and hairless, mute and helpless flesh that squeezed out shit once a day and otherwise hung there in the world like linen that hadn't been ironed....
In "Rabbit Is Rich," the protagonist, Harry, has a vivid and uncomfortable memory from his adolescence. At around twelve or thirteen years old, he inadvertently walked into his parents’ bedroom, where he found his father in a vulnerable state. The scene captures a moment of unexpected intimacy and awkwardness, as Harry sees his father in just his socks and an undershirt, rummaging through a drawer for his underwear. This sight resonates deeply with Harry, portraying his father's physicality in a stark and unflattering light.
The father's bare backside is described in a way that emphasizes its mundane and almost tragic nature. Harry perceives the extremity of the moment—his father, typically a figure of authority, reduced to a state of helplessness. The imagery of his father's body, compared to unwashed laundry, suggests not only physical vulnerability but also reflects Harry's complex feelings towards manhood and familial relationships. This encounter encapsulates themes of aging, intimacy, and the unglamorous truths of life that Updike explores throughout the narrative.