Rhetorical Question

" 'You'll stay here, won't you Robert?'(pg 53)."

In this scene, Frances is upset because she believes Robert is no longer interested in her. This turns out to be true. The rhetorical question serves a specific purpose in this situation. In the exposition, the author alludes to the type of control Frances has over Robert. It is clearly seen here, for she is basically telling him to stay and not follow Jake and herself to the cafe when they go to talk privately. Throughout the novel, she uses a very passive-aggressive tactic while speaking to Robert. It is abundantly clear that she "wears the pants" in that relationship and she seems all too proud to be in that position. So, the author uses the rhetorical question to demonstrate the way in which she belit les Robert and treats him almost more like a pet than a partner. I also see this particular part as the author's way of showing that Robert is truely growing by basically shipping Frances off and deciding he wants to live his own life, free of his owner.