The gender norms and roles that permeate our society have been particularly evident in this case, as it was a man stabbing his wife – almost fatally. While gender roles typically assign men the role of protector over their female partners, Norman Mailer instead wielded his power in an attempt to take control of the situation. It’s almost ironic how in modern times we still view men as having more power than women, yet so often it is their female counterparts who become victims of violence and aggression.

Privilege also plays an important role here – if not for Norman Mailer’s status as a celebrity author he may not have escaped without repercussions for nearly killing his wife. Instead, society seemed to turn a blind eye to this incident despite its seriousness; which speaks volumes about how differently privileged people are treated versus those from marginalized backgrounds.

When analyzing cases like these it is essential to recognize the societal influences at play that can shape individuals’ actions and understanding of responsibility. In this case specifically, one can see that patriarchal values seem to be prioritized over justice or consequences for one’s actions – with such oppressive ideas being ingrained into our social structure since time immemorial and continuing today even though they should rightfully no longer exist.