Examine the presentation of women in AHWOSG

'Beth being as much or more owed than Toph and I... '

Beth in Daves eyes is owed more as she was the full time career for their dying mother, meaning him and Toph don't deserve it as much. The adjective 'owed' shows Dave feels that dealing with ill parents and then to be a orphan, society owes you money, happiness especially when it comes to Beth.
The conjunction 'and' link him and Toph together showing through the deal of their parents dying they have become one yet Beth is no longer part of the group, Eggers presents her as someone who wants to move on with her life.

How much should I/can I/ will I burden Kristen?

The / between shows how Daves thought process is all over the place and Eggers presents Kristen as someone who can't be there for Dave and isn't fully supportive. The burden Dave is talking about is his life, Toph and him being a full time career now. The question shows Dave wonders if Kristen is really ready for the career responsibilities he now has.

'And something should be done about (or to) that gaunt and severe woman on the BART, the one with the hair pulled back so tight she looked half-onion.'

Dave links woman to their looks and if whether or not they would be a good mother, girlfriend and if they aren't then he uses irony to insult them. The word 'guant' means bony or bleak so his feelings towards her are shown through the description, he then uses and adjective of pulled to describe her haor and then using a metaphore describes her to look like a half onion. Irony is here as Eggers creates an harsh personality for Dave towards woman who he doesn't find attractive.



'The woman was not wearing any rings. I wondered if we could all move in together. She would understand.

Eggers presents woman as a mother, sister and girlfriend for Dave. Dave yearns to fullfill the mother role he no longer has to have a female in his life seems to be massively important to him and for Toph to grow up properly. This is shown by the adverb and adjective 'not wearing any rings' he signifies rings with being married meaning she is a possible candidate for his life. 'She would understand' using a short sentence he assumes she is in the same role, a single parent to help out.

'Many of the woman are old enough to have mothered me, and look it'

The adjective 'old' supports how expected to find a perfect woman for him and Toph yet all he sees is people who don't fit his paticular criteria and so are judged. Eggers presents woman as unflattering and unattractive if Dave can't visualize them in his life. The adjecticve 'mothered' supports the idea of Dave wanting a mother role but for Toph, he feels as if he needs a girlfriend instead.