Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Slocum's home is far from a safe haven. In fact, it's more of a landmine. One wrong step, and he'll set off his wife and children.
Slocum can never remember if he and his wife are on good terms with each other, his daughter thinks he is always mocking her, and his son thinks he is always yelling at him. Sometimes when Slocum is at home, he wishes he were at the office. Even though his office life isn't that much better, at least he feels more at home there.
The Slocum home is further tainted by Derek's presence, for when the children are off at school, he is the one child who remains there. He requires the assistance of a nurse, who makes Slocum and his family feel even more uncomfortable in their own home by making them all feel guilty for not displaying enough affection toward Derek. As Derek grows older, Slocum grows more self-conscious about bringing colleagues from his corporate office over for dinner because he knows they'll all try and be polite but ask invasive questions about Derek.
The home is also symbolic of women's roles, for the home functions much as a wife's office. In true 1960s fashion, it's where wives take charge and organize fancy dinner parties for their friends and their husbands' corporate coworkers.
Sound fulfilling? Not if you ask Mrs. Slocum. It's like a prison for her, too, a place where she has nothing to do but cook and clean and take care of her husband and the kids. She's just as unhappy in her "office" as her hubby is in his. In fact, the home is hardly home for anybody in this novel.
Cheery.