The Company Man – By Ellen Goodman

Read Time:3 Minute, 18 Second

Summary

“The Company Man” is an essay written by Ellen Goodman, a journalist. In the essay, she describes a man who “worked himself to death” at fifty one. She presents the fact about the man’s life and work allowing the readers to draw their own conclusions. She gives us a brief summary of a big company man’s attributes, life, and death.

Phil is a main character in the essay. He was an employee in the company who was hardworking man. He worked six days a week, five of them until eight or nine at night. On Saturdays, he wore a sports jacket to the office instead of a suit because it was the weekend. He thought that he was an important person of the office. He had no “extracurricular interests” outside. He did not have time to eat food at home. He always ate egg, salad sandwiches at his desk in the company. He didn’t smoke. He could not give time to his family members. So he was like unknown person for his family members at home. While working, he died in the office on holiday at 3 am on Sunday morning at the age of 51. He eventually worked himself to death.

His wife, Helen was 48 years. She was also job holder in an office before marriage. Once Phil’s friend said to her,” I know how much you will miss your husband”. But she replied that she had already missed her husband for many years. Phil’s eldest son didn’t know how his father was. So, he goes to neighbourhood to ask about how his father was like after his father’s death. Phil’s second child was daughter who was 24 years old and newly married. She was very close with her mother. But whenever she was alone with her father in a car driving somewhere, she didn’t speak much with her father even being in the same car. Phil’s youngest son who was 20, was dear to Phil and he was worried about his youngest son’s future. But even the youngest son rarely spoke to Phil.

On the Phil’s funeral, 60 year old president said that the company had missed very important person and it was hard to get another person like Phil. But Helen didn’t want to hear only Phil’s praise. She needs financial support from the company. At the end of the essay, Phil’s boss began to look for a replacement of Phil and asked, “who’s been working the hardest?” In this way, Ellen Goodman explores the unpleasant reality of big business.

Questions

1. “He always ate egg salad sandwiches at his desk” What is the implication of this sentence?

Ans: Phil works in the company. He always eats egg salad sandwiches at his desk. It means that He is so busy and does not have time to eat food at home. It also implies the habit of working people in developed countries. In developed countries, people work like machine. So they don’t have time to have meal at home.

2) What attitude does Phil’s wife have towards him?

Ans: Phil’s wife thinks that he is living only to work in company. He does not give time to his wife and children. She does not expect any help from husband. Once Phil’s friend said to her,” I know how much you will miss your husband”. But she replied that she had already missed her husband for many years. This sentence also clearly indicates that she is feeling loneliness and she in despair though she has husband.

3) Why was no one surprised when Phil died?

Ans: As a company man, Phil was working hard like machine. He worked six days a week, five of them until eight or nine at night. Everybody had guessed that he would die untimely. He worked himself to death. So, no one was surprised when Phil died in the office on holiday at 3 am on Sunday morning at the age of 51.